Happy Days Are Here Again!!!!!

School started today and my kids couldn't be happier!

The last few weeks have been filled with, "Mom, I'm bored," or "Mom, I'm hungry."

I am excited for them. I shed a few tears sending my baby off to Kindergarten.

It's so hard to believe that all of my children are now in school full-time. Just a few years ago, I was writing posts about the madness and insanity that was my life with a house full of toddlers.

Now, my posts are few and far between since we are running around doing all kinds of busy-ness with the kids. Definintely a new and different phase of life.

In some ways, I miss the younger days, but I can honestly say that I'm enjoying my new independence a bit.

Is that bad?

I always hear these moms say how hard it is for them to let go. I definitely love my kids, but I also love my time alone. Sometimes, I feel guilty for actually acknowledging that--like that somehow makes me a bad mom, or at least, less of a mom.

Life changed when I had kids. It turned my life upside down. I wouldn't change it for anything, but now that I'm at a stage of being able to have some freedom, I'm going to soak it up and not feel, at all, guilty about it! I just hope I don't pack on the weight from all the Bon Bons I'll be eating......:)

I'm Baaaack....After An 8 Month Sabbatical

Okay, so what's so wrong with taking an 8 month vacation? Well, apparently, a lot!!!! I miss blogging and connecting with you all!

I am not going to attempt to recap what life has been like for the past 8 months. It's been life! Hectic, fun, frustrating, hilarious, stressful, momentous and full of adventure. There.

So, as I type this post, my children and running amok and playing as children do, but I have a question for you fellow parents. What do you say or do when your children are blatantly mean to one another? For example, saying mean things to each other (that would certainly hurt if reciprocated). Fighting over ridiculously, minuscule things. Not respecting each other or each other's things.

I'm looking for some advice and really screaming for help! I have tried praying with them, sharing what God's word says, showing them my favorite spoon and letting them experience it and I'm needing some creative ideas to mediate this chaos......

Hey, At Least I'm Posting Something

I have stunketh at blogging for quite sometime. I don't know if I'm just busier or the newness has worn off, or maybe it's that my fodder tank is on "E". I have short little tidbits, but I usually take 2 seconds and post it to Facebook.

That being said, I would like to wish all of my "frans" in Blogspot land a very Merry Christmas. I just want you to know that even though it looks like this picture was taken with utmost ease, I stressed hardcore about which one to choose. I loathe taking family pictures. There's something very stressful to me about trying to get everyone looking just right and sitting just still. I like to get it over with as quickly as possible. Not to mention, trying to select a frame that does not reveal my double chin is maddening.

New Year's Resolution........abstinence from eating. ever. again.

Fun With Floor Polish!

I went to a craft night at a friend's church last night and made these adorable Christmas ornaments!

Here is an instructional video on how to make them. They are super easy and will make great gifts for teachers and such.....:)

Two Enthusiastic Thumbs Up!

I just saw the cutest movie tonight. I had not even heard of it, but it was playing for $2.50 at our local theater and I couldn't pass it up. I highly recommend it! You can even take your teenage girls to see it. It passed the family friendly test!

Frugalicious!

This couponing thing is really fun. Just wondering if any of you coupon? It's such a thriil to get a great deal. I have gotten quite a few freebies as of late! Yesterday, I got 2 G@in dish soaps for free. A few days ago, I got 4 Ment0s gum packs for free.

I wanted to share a few sights that I frequent several times daily:


Who Said Nothing In Life Is Free?

Wild For Wags

Time2SaveWorkshops

DealSeekingMom

Buxr

What websites do you use? I'd love any couponing advice or tips!

Oh yeah, if anyone needs toothpaste or deodorant, give me a call. I can hook you up! :)

Ants In My.......House!

There are some things about my life that I just don't understand. There are plenty of things about my life that I would like to tweak. I could stand to lose about 50 lbs. I've been thinking about how nice it would be to never have to wear glasses ever again. I wish my kids behaved better when I take them out in public.

However, there is one thing that I am over-the-moon about. My husband is an amazing dad. He takes time to kick the ball with his daughters. He coaches their soccer team. He cooks......sometimes. He lets me get out with the girls so I can have a break from being a full-time stay-at-home mommy. He throws the football with our son and helps with homework. He is stern, but loving and most of all, he teaches and models Jesus Christ to them. All around, he is a pretty amazing man.

Last Saturday, he and Michael spent the entire day working on a homemade ant farm. Michael has a love of all things science. My two males are totally cut from the same mold. Michael is a miniature version of my husband, only with my killer red hair.....:)

On Monday, after school, Daddy and Michael went on an ant hunt in our front yard. They found some "Red Harvester" ants, which apprently are really neat to look at, but will sting the fire out of you with the same intensity as a wasp! Dad put "said" ants in our refrigerator for 10 minutes to slow down their metabolism for easier transfer to the farm. Apparently, 10 minutes isn't long enough because the transfer was anything but easy. We had ants going everywhere! Michael was very specific about which ants were important, so as they were attempting an escape, he was trying to catch them with his hands. Mistake. Michael encountered the wasp similiarity at this point.

We eventually got most of the ants safely to their new home. They have since been working hard to make tunnels all through the farm. Michael is just tickled with what he and his daddy did together. I must say, I'm rather tickled, myself. It cost them a whole Saturday and some Afterbite (for the painful sting), but the priceless time being invested in a parent/child bond is well worth it!