Kids these days are out of controll...Where are the parents!

Yes that is a picture of what some little munchkins did to a house around the block from me. I can't believe the parents that let their kids go drop TP all over the place. I hope they get caught and are made to go back and clean it up! How ridiculous!

Oh look one got caught! Looks like she is going to pay the price! I like when justice is served!

Look they might catch up with another.....wait that kid look familiar...oh never mind, I don't know her!

I guess she didn't get caught she is at it again, and look another accomplice caught in the photo!

yes there were some that didn't make it....

Did I mention that the baking could be fun but time consuming....well, sometimes I admit with the distractions around here time got away and some cookies were left to bake a little too long. OOPS. We don't have to send them to the bake sale. It's just the simple life things happen!

Helping out with a local bake sale

Well, I have cousin who has a step son in a robotic club. She does everything she can to go out of her way and help the kids with their extra curricular activities. She has organized events and made special arrangements when needed. Now her step son has to raise $800.00 as his share for the club. So being the involved creative person that she is she organized a bake sale to help him start earning his portion. Many people pitched in to help and donate things for them to sell. Here are a some of the things we donated.

Of course baking and making some items to donate can be time consuming, but it is the fun and easy part. Making all the arrangements with a place to do it, pulling it all together, spending the time collecting the donations, researching and pricing the goodies, and doing what it takes to prepare for the event of selling the goodies is the hard and important part! (especially when it is added on top of all the shopping and baking goodies that she made her self too)

She has two other younger children of her own also that she tends to and makes arrangements for. One of the others also being in extra curricular activities that she helps with. (the youngest still too little but in much need of her mommy's attention). It is a job to juggle that is totally under estimated!

The day of the event there is gathering all you the bake goods, getting change for the sale, dropping little ones off, collecting helpers, and getting there to set up. This is the real time consuming part. Sitting out side at the tables in the cold weather, waiting to see if all your hard work paid off.

Well, today is the day! She is out on her way, to spend all morning and afternoon at a bake sale before she rushes home to take her little ones out trick or treating! In the mean time we are honored to have the easy job of enjoying Ally's company. It is a treat for us in return of all her hard work...Not quite fair to her, but I'm not complaining!

It's all in the Icing...

My husband loves yellow cake with Chocolate Icing. He Especially loves homemade Chocolate icing. So since he has been working so much lately I decided to make him a cake. I don't have a picture of the first cake, because when the kids got home from school they all went crazy and ate most of the cake. So, my hubby got a small slice but didn't have any extra to pack in hid lunch to take to work.

So a few days later I found the time to bake another one. What is so special about this cake? Nothing it is a plain ol' box cake. The thing about the cake is that it goes good with his new favorite icing. He came home with the Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa. On the back of the container is a recipe for buttercream frosting. Jeff asked me to make a batch and a half so he could just eat the rest of the frosting.....LOL and he did. It is a good thing I took a picture of this. Once it was cut it was gone! I'm not that big on Chocolate but I have to admit this frosting comes out pretty good!

The little things...

Since my husband has been working a different shift than usual, the girls don't get to see him as much as usual. When he was getting ready to leave for work he came into tell them good bye and they pounced him. Kaylin first and then Kara joined in. Kaylin thought it was the funniest thing to jump on Daddy. Daddy thought it was pretty special too! He is missing his girls and they are missing his attention. He took a little extra time saying good bye that day. Getting the girls wound up before he left.
See Daddy is under there! The little happy moments are the ones that mean the most. Daddy and his princesses, the happy smiles and the laughter that was filling the room. I couldn't help but feel grateful for my family and my simple life! Just thought I'd share another happy moment!

Why are they taking away childhood...

Does anyone agree with me that kids these days are getting shorter and shorter childhoods? A notice just went around our township that the state has mandated by the legislature to provide 3 and 4 year old programs next year. Am I against them....NO. Do I think it is something the state needed to waste their time on ....NO. There are plenty of other issues out there that need to be taken care of than robbing young children of childhood.

Ok let me explain before all the out of home working parents jump down my throat..... I do understand that the majority of the parents both work, or single parent have to work. I get that. I also understand that this will help those who have children that qualify with child care service. I think that is one of the positive points actually.
Do I think a 3 year old program will turn into a day care service in the public schools...yup sure do just not a positive one! Do I think that needs to be part of the public school....No way. Three years old is too young to be put in the school system for an all day program. I personally think 4 is also, but that is a little more understandable. I think children are absorbent little sponges and shouldn't be held back from learning. I just think the public is taking over more of what should be the parents jobs. Most 3 year olds are not potty trained or mature enough in other ways to be in a public school. They should be in a day care, if they have working parents, that is geared toward younger children.

So this is where I stand on the matter. I believe the 3 and 4 year old program could do a lot of good if....they open it to more options. Maybe offer full time and part time learning experiences. If a parent needs their kid to be there all day ok then so be it...If a parent works part time allow or encourage them to come get their children and spend the rest of the time with them when they are done work. To mandate that if your kid attends the program they have to be there all day...well that is just awful. If it is going to be something that is run by the the public schools anyway, and all kids that are eligible can attend...why not allow they to attend for the learning experience...Let us Mommies that are able to, do our part. We can feed them and give them naps at home.

I love the simple life I live with out all the extras and bells and whistles, because I give that "STUFF" up to stay at home and raise my children, that I decided to have. If I send my children to this program it could benefit them for the first 3 hours after that, having them at home would benefit them soooooooooo much more. So why not allow that?
Sponges can only absorb so much before they need to be rung out and dunked again. Kids can only learn so much before they need to sleep and start another day.

This program is going to cause little three year olds (occasionally 2 years olds since October is the cut off)to ride on a bus or be in a building with children up to their teenage years, all day. It is well known that the teenage years aren't always the best for kids. In a day care most of the time the little ones are less likely to be exposed to those issues that may come about with teens and pre-teens.

It is decided and there is nothing to do about it now, but my poor little girl who thought she was going to start pre-school next year and was so excited about it may not get to go. The pre-school was set up as a half a day program since before I started at that grade school. Now they are changing it to full day only not an option. I don't see the need for her to go there. So, parents that have given up things to raise their own children are the ones who ended up paying in the end. If I want her to start a part time preschool program somewhere I am going to have to pay for a private school. Doesn't make sense that a full day would be free. But it is more important to me that I have as much time with my children as I can since they grow up too fast anyway. Family values aren't learned in schools....and it is not fare they are making them less important.

Because of the disappointment the parade caused being stopped and canceled last night I was trying to think of something special to do with the girls today. My cousin mentioned that an event called Boo at the Zoo had been postponed until today because of there being a chance of rain yesterday. So, again I did not mention this to my little ones until I thought it was a sure thing. I debated all morning on dressing them up in their costumes and taking them or not. I finally decided why not. I am getting more use out of these costumes I made than any I have ever purchased. It made all the time working on them worth it and the main time they were meant for has not even arrived yet. Kaylin has definitely be trick or treating more than most one year old kids....and Halloween isn't even here yet.

When we arrived at the zoo, they handed each kid a bag to collect their goodies in. Kara politely said to the gentleman "No thank you, I have a basket." The guy thought that was the cutest thing; then told her that the bag he handed out had a special treat in it. She got a grin on her face and then politely asked for two bags (one for her sister of course). Then we went to the first table where they had a pumpkin container filled with candy corn...we filled out a paper where Kara guessed 5,000. As we proceeded through the zoo they had a game to toss the balls into pumpkin buckets. Kara got so excited when she got the ball in the pumpkin. After that there was another treat table, and face painting! While waiting in line there was a little boy dressed as batman. He was talking to Kara and then leaned over to his mommy and asked if he could have his picture taken with Little Red Riding Hood. I chuckled. Then his mom looked at me to see if it was ok first. Little Red Riding Hood gladly posed with batman and then again with a skeleton boy. Kaylin did not want her face painted. She doesn't like to hold still for anything! Kara went up and got a pink flower on her cheek. Not knowing what little event would be next we continued on our way. Another treat table! This time each child got to pick a pumpkin and color it with markers! Kaylin and Kara both concentrated hard while decorating their lil pumpkins. Not too far away another table! What could this be...wow Cookies! Not just cookies...cookies that you could decorate with icing and sprinkles! The girls loved it! There was a cave women there holding a lizard that the girls were not too sure of, but they were interested from a distance! After we were done at the zoo Mommy thought it would be nice to take the girls out to lunch. We went to a near by pizza place and ate. By the time we got home the girls were exhausted. I changed them out of their costumes and down for a nap they went!

Not so Special Surprise..

As I had said before there would be a special surprise if Kara took a nice nap. So she did. When she woke up she was wondering what her surprise was going to be. It just so happened that my mother-in-law was on the phone with me and asked if she could tell her. I said sure. I handed Kara the phone and she was excited to hear the "Gandmom" was on the phone talking to her. She had asked her if she would like to go watch a parade with her. In the township where my mother-in-law lives they do a Halloween Parade at night every year. Last year Kara was in the parade with a group of friends. Their float was called Granny's pumpkin patch! Kara was invited to ride with them. All the kids were dresses as pumpkins. It was cute, but that is another blog maybe some day. This year we were going to be spectaters. Kara was so excited to go watch the parade. Gandmom has a golf cart that she parked for us to sit in and watch the parade from. Kaylin wanting nothing to do with sitting. I knew that was going to be an issue. The parade started and so did the heavy, heavy rain! Then the parade was canceled and my baby girl that did everything she was supposed to earn her surprise, was broken hearted. Surprise there is no parade...what a tease for the little kids. All the kids that were participants and spectaters were so disappointed, all the little ones that put such hard work into preparing floats and performances for the parade were let down. They had a rain date set they should have just used it....but it was a poor call! Oh well, in all this it is a good lesson to little ones that sometimes life doesn't go as planned. Sometimes there are moments of disappointment or change. Kara got over it rather quickly. Mommy was fine with it, it got us home sooner and to bed late but earlier than if there was a full parade. Kaylin fell asleep in the car on the ride home. I knew she would be tired so I changed her diaper and dressed her for bed before we even left!

Pumpkin Carve

Daddy had something in store for Kara but never told her what it was until it was time. All morning she was running around doing exactly what she was told to do. She was trying so hard to be good because, we told her there would be a special project for her today if she was a good girl. She was so extra helpful at breakfast. She set the table as usual and ate up all her oatmeal. She then cleaned off the table including her sister's bowl. She helped clean up all the toys in the living room her little sister got out. She did it all with out complaining. So when Kaylin went down for a morning nap, it was time for Kara's special project that daddy was going to do a with her. He told her to go get her pumpkin from out front that she picked from the pumpkin patch. Daddy had to help her since they were heavy ones. Then they took it to the dining room table. Kara was still asking "What are we going to do with it daddy?". He told her we are going to carve it. She was so excited and knew exactly how she wanted it to look. So first they had to get all the yucky stuff out. Kara seemed to love that part! Then she told him where she wanted the eyes and what shape they needed to be. The same with the nose. She kept saying I want a happy pumpkin Daddy! She is in the stage where she asks so many questions. I think if there was a question about a pumpkin to be asked, she at some point has asked it. They had such a good time! Now we have a carved happy pumpkin out on the front step, we just need to get a candle in it. I hope it stays cold enough for it to last a week out there!
We had another surprise for as long as she took a nice nap! She couldn't wait to find out what that was going to be!

A Friday evening in?

With me being a stay at home working mom, I am always looking for a way to get out. We almost always have on the go plans from Friday until Monday at some point through out each of those days. This weekend with the weather being up in the air I wasn't quite sure what we were going to do. We have plans but only weather permitting. It was a long day if you know what I mean. My husband usually gets home before I am done watching kids, when he is on a normal shift. So he usually gets to see how hectic it gets here during the day. This Friday he called and said he was bringing home dinner! Yeah! A great ending to an ok week, that didn't start out great! When Jeff walked in the door I was running around finding all the kids scattered items for when their parents arrived. Then even though it was chilly we headed outside to play for a few minutes until each and everyone was picked up! When I came back in he had the table set and the youngest one strapped in her chair. How awesome is it to finish working and walk back in the door to dinner on the table ready to go. As a stay at home mom that doesn't happen much around here "for me". As we were eating we were again talking about our weekend plans. After hearing how much was going on this weekend I was hoping for a night in with a movie. Of course our netflix never arrives in time for the weekend. Once it does arrive we never save it for the weekend. So after thinking about it, I figured it didn't really matter if it was a movie we saw before. I told my oldest she could pick out a movie after dinner for all of us to watch. She was so excited. I can not remember the last time if ever that we had a movie night in where my husband, kids & I could all be together. Well, I have to say there was a movie already in house that I had not seen for years, and no one else here had seen, that I had for gotten about. So by the time my oldest daughter carried everything down from her bed and set up on the floor in front of the TV, we were ready to start the movie. We pulled all the shades, dimmed the lights and pressed play. Soon the previews were over and "Sleeping Beauty" had started! Yes, a night in with my husband and girls watching Sleeping Beauty. I looked and my husband and whispered "Does it get any better than this?" He looked at me with a slight grin showing how much he appreciated our family time!
I love my simple life!

Soccer

Last night I had the privilege of going to a soccer game to watch a couple little kids I know play. It just so happened I ended up seeing several kids on the other team I knew too. My two nieces and two of the little guys I watch during the day were on the opposite team. It made for an interesting game. I could either not cheer for either team or sit there cheering for both teams. Since they are such little ones playing everyone really cheers for both teams anyway. I had a good time sitting there snapping pictures of them playing against each other. It was a good game! I actually was able to sit and watch the game since my husband said he would stay home with my youngest. When I have been in the past...I have been to busy keeping up with her to pay attention to the game!

Catching up!

Today I am trying to catch up on my blog. I haven't had a chance to write for a couple days, not really much to write anyway.

This weekend...does anyone know where it went?

Friday evening Kara went hunting with her Daddy again. She loves it. Of course he just does it to take her out and have fun...he never expects to be able to get anything! She loves going. Since we live it the country it is not hard to see deer around here. In fact there is a white one around here once in a while. It has some brown on it but mainly white. When I can get a picture of it I'll post it! Don't get your hopes up though.

Of course we had to dress Kaylin in her little camo for a picture too! Someday she will get her turn to go hunting with Daddy, but not yet.

Saturday Daddy went hunting without kids...Mommy had the morning with the girls....which didn't go so well. Kaylin woke up not feeling well. You know how things are when your kids get sick! Not fun. She got over it rather quickly, but it was am awful start to the weekend! I hope things improve for the starts of the week!

A day with Cindy...

Since I wrote a blog about Kaylin discovering her best friend....I had a memory of one time when Kara met a special friend. It was a Saturday, that I went out yard-saling with my cousin. Kara was getting into the whole "Princess" stage. On one of the yard sales I came a cross, a doll that I thought Kara would love to have. It was a Cinderella doll. It was $3.00. I debated a little about spending $3.00 on a doll, since she had so many dolls. Anyway, I did.



When I got home that afternoon Kara was down for a nap. So, I undressed the doll and washed her dress, then scrubbed her down. That way Kara could play with her when she got up. After she got up from her nap I showed her the doll and told her we had to get the dress out of the dryer to dress her. When we got the dress out Kara wanted to try it on. Then we dressed Cindy. Kara (2) at the time asked if they could go out side and play. I chuckled and said sure. So, with the doll bigger than she was, Kara proceeded out the back door and down the steps.

































I had to get my camera, and take a few pictures. Kara went and got her wagon out and put Cindy in it. She pulled her around the back yard for a long time. Kara and Cindy had a great time. They played like too new best friends. They never fought or argued the entire time. I loved it. They played in the back yard for almost an hour together. Just in that hour I figured I got my $3.00 worth, even if she never plays with her again. She did thought Kara and Cindy were best friends for a while.


Off to the slide. Kara had a time getting Cindy up thsoe steps but she managed!




















Then Kara had to go down with her! For Cindy's safety ya know!

































Then it was off to the big slide. As much as Kara wanted to help Cindy her self, Mommy have to help get Cindy up there this time!

and down they went.

I guess then it was time to rest in the sun. What a fun play time. Yes, it was time to come in for dinner...of course Cindy joined us!

Not doing so well at my new goal

Today I started thinking. (Something I don't always have time to do) I am not doing so well with my new goal of making things simple. I think I have been complicating situations. Well, I have no pictures to go along with this blog. I want you all to know that I have given my self a challange to simplify a situation. We shall see how it goes...

Creative Apple Recipes Wanted!

Today, was a day that didn't have a good start! You know how someone makes a comment that bothers you and you lay awake all night dwelling on it. That is the kind of night I had last night. So I started off the day venting to my husband and complaining. (He has been working nights so when I get up he gets home with in the hour) He loves working all night to hear me complaining about something.

Anyway, that was just the start to my day. I ended up talking to my cousin who also watches children in her home. We decided to take the kids on a field trip. We love taking the kids out! Today's trip was APPLE PICKING! We take them to an orchard every year. This year my cousin found a new orchard we decided to try. It was awesome. They gave us free apples to try when we arrived to see which type we wanted to pick. Of course I decided to choose the sweeter ones! I was a beautiful day and the kids LOVED IT! We filled our little baskets and went back to pay for them. Then we took the kids out to lunch and got them home in time for a nap. I should say my day was going a lot better than it started. Coming home with bags of apples had me wanting to try and bake something new and unique with them. I am up for any ideas to try! My kids love eating apples, many different ways. Kara's favorite is to have slices of apples and a dish of peanut butter for dipping! If you have any recipes worth sharing send 'em my way, please!

Below are some pictures of kids at the orchard!