30 years of FUN

I turned 30 yesterday.

I'm writing this while one child throws wadded up paper snowballs at the other, and I'm being stabbed by a pencil wielded by my 2 year old. I'm going to write, get everyone dressed, and then take them for a long lap around the neighborhood. That will get the antsy out. As a present from the CA government, for my birthday I have to go to the DMV and renew my drivers license. Which I tried to do online but it said I had to do it by mail, which I never got. At least I have an appointment.

So, back to being 30. When I was at the store the other day (buying more bread due to sick-gate 2012), I heard a lady say to her guy, "40 is the new 30, and 30 is the new 20, so it doesn't matter". I got the gist from them that they were older and just starting out, but it was ok since everyone starts on their own lives later.

Which makes me laugh because I've already got the kids-house-job-grind, and I just hit 30. I've been doing that for the past decade. There's no settling down and straightening up for me, just continuing on what I've been doing. In some ways I feel way older then my 30 years.

I spent my 30th birthday enjoying my hubby's (awesome) cooking, playing with the kids, playing some WoW, raiding with friends, eating cookies and eating cake. It's impossible to feel old when most of my day is spent teaching, playing, and making our house a warm place to be. It was perfect for me.

Sometimes I look back through the hazy memories and try to remember what I wanted to be or do when I was 30, and none of them are anywhere near the importance of what I am doing now. Raising my kids to be wonderful, smart, caring people, will make more of an impact then anything I could ever do. When they are grown (in the blink of an eye), maybe then I'll decide exactly what I want to do for a job. Or, I'll be watching some grandbabies, getting to lunch with friends, and volunteer for worthy causes. Maybe.  Maybe my hubby will do those things and I will work for awhile. If the past 30 years have taught me anything, I know the next 30 will be quite the adventure.

For now though, one foot in front of the other, one day at a time, one load of laundry at a time. Since that's what really makes up our lives- the little moments in between the big ones.

MIA- In the Trenches

This post is not for the faint at heart or those of a squeamish stomach. It's probably best read with an empty stomach and lots of sympathy. 


I have had a few blog posts sitting in my head that I was going to blog about this week.

Then Doorbuster threw up. We figured it was something he ate. No big deal. There was no fever and it came out of the blue.

Then 2 days later, I get the P & P's. You can guess what the P & P stands for. I hate being sick. I don't ever want to think about that night again. I was fine after a few hours, thank God. Every time I get the flu I wrap myself in a ball and want to be left alone in my misery. I'm not the best sick person. I get rather crazy. I have so much that needs to be done in a day that it drives me crazy when it doesn't get done.

The next day, Princess says she isn't feeling good. She felt warm, but the thermometer said she was fine. I thought she smelled rather sick (Am I the only nutcase who smells her kids to decide if they are sick?) we stayed home from PE class. Good thing, since she got sick about halfway through class time. By drum lesson time, she was fine, everyone seemed to have a ton of energy, so I took them to drum lessons and decided we'd try to make it to Target for a few things. Namely a training potty, since Doorbuster likes to take off his diaper and do his business on the floor. I still feel dragged out and have a horrible headache from being sick, but that's why they invented Tylenol, right?

We pull into the parking lot and bam.... it's Doorbuster's turn again. I clean him up best I can, realizing that I have no extra clothes or anything, just a pile of everyone else's sweatshirts, a blanket, a single kleenex, a box of cracker jacks and half a baby wipe (since someone used the wipes to clean their matchbox cars). I sanitize my hands really well, and eat the box of cracker jacks to soothe my feelings at missing a trip to Target while I drive back home.

We make it home, and Doorbuster is fine. Bath, clean clothes, call Hubby for back up (Having a Hubby who can work all day, and come home and cook because you're going crazy = awesome). He went to the store and came home and made dinner and took over the sickies, and watched Wheel of Fortune with them. Everyone went to bed early, and I stayed up for awhile playing with my newly-made WoW Arena Team. I was really excited since we won quite a few games, and I was really excited about how well we did. It was nice to not have to think about sickies for awhile.

I make it to bed, doze off, and hear the thunking of feet running down the hall. Running down my hall should be considered an Olympic event, since it's full of legos and laundry baskets at the moment. The older two alternated being sick overnight. I'm rather relieved, because the sooner it goes through everyone, the sooner we will be over this horrid, horrid illness. I attempt to sleep while dreaming of healing myself, pushing buttons, trying to get Doorbuster back to sleep since he wakes up every time someone else gets up (and gags in sympathy), and listening for kids. I managed to sleep until 8:30, where I stagger into the disaster area of the living room.

When Daredevil was bragging about how he threw up in a bag....he didn't. Not exactly. I'm very glad I hadn't made it to eating breakfast yet. I'm also very thankful for the steam cleaner, and I am going to get a wet-vac, thanks to the suggestion of one of my friends. She's super smart, because that wet-vac would have saved a lot of time. I also now have a dishwasher full of Wii Game cases and toys, and I think the new very enforced rule will be Princess needs to either A) go to bed the same time as everyone else or b) play in her room until I am up. Because....it was bad. Dealing with that mess, while not being awake at all, with her incredible amount of energy and MOM! MOM! MOM! MOM! Oh, there are days when this mothering business is too much!

Thankfully, it seems like everyone is on the mend now, and by the time everything makes it out of the dishwasher sanitized and squeaky clean (and thanks to a good stock up of lysol and hand sanitizer), and I make it out of my pajamas and into the shower, things will be looking up. It's a beautiful day, and we wont be outside enjoying it (well, the younger two will since I am making them go out and PLAY since they feel great), at least I can throw open all the windows, spray some lysol, and air out the sickies.

Thankfully, next week is a new week.

4 Moms, 35 kids- Clothes, Clothes, Clothes

Today the Moms are talking about organizing, washing, buying and wearing clothes. Who doesn't have piles of laundry in their house? The more people in your family, the bigger that pile can grow.

Buying Clothes- Most of my kids clothes come from clearance racks at Target, thrift stores, hand-downs (really pass-arounds), or any other place I can find cheap clothes. For some reason, yard sales out here don't have much in the way of kids clothes. I will look on craigslist and ebay, but I haven't had luck lately on either. My kids are not picky about what they wear. Well, Genius is, but he's easy enough. He only likes plain shirts, and one color of jeans. So when he needs clothes I buy one of every color shirt at Target and a few pants and he's set. I try to keep everyone's clothes simple- plain pants and shorts, shirts that match everything, white socks. Easy! I also try to shop a size ahead, unless I am at the twice a year kids consignment that I love. It's easier to make something big work then something small.

Organizing Clothes- I do the washing and drying. The owner of the clothes does the folding, hanging, and putting away. We don't fold socks and underwear (I buy all the same brand and style of sock- every one matches every one). I also buy a different brand for each kid so it's easy to know who's is who's. The boys have a dresser for their clothes, and so does Princess. Plus, she has a low bar on her closet so she can hang her own dresses up. When someone outgrows something it's either put in the next person's drawers, or put in a bag to be passed on. I have a lot of Mommy-friends and we are always passing sets of clothes around. At the moment, only Doorbuster has a bag of clothes to grow into, but he is the only one who's growing fast (I know Genius will be sprouting up soon, but again, his clothes are pretty inexpensive new). I also try to keep the amount of clothes down to a minimum- 7 shirts, 7 pants/shorts. Running out of clothes is usually a laundry problem, not a needing-to-buy-more problem.

Washing Clothes- I try on most days to get a load in at breakfast, switched at lunch, and put away after dinner. The usually on the weekend I run a bunch of loads to get caught up and do towels and blankets. Lazy weekends are the best days for doing laundry, since it's really just switching and sorting and waiting for the washer to be done. I also make my own laundry soap. I can't believe I spent all that time buying detergent! I do have some back up store soap I got for almost free with coupons, so I have a back up if I need it. A little more then once a month Princess and I mix up a batch. The recipe I use is 1 bar of Fels Naptha, one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda. Mix it up in a 5 gallon bucket and let sit overnight. I use a about a half cup a load. For stains, I keep a bar of Fels Naptha on my bathroom counter, I get the stain wet and rub the soap on it. Easy!

Those are my clothes tips. Is it bad I really love the Duggars laundry room? To be able to wash that much laundry at one time is great. Someday I dream of having two washers and dryers. But, by the time that happens, I will probably have a lot less laundry to wash.

Check out the other Moms over at The Common Room, Smockity Frocks, Raising Olives, and In a Shoe, for their helpful tips!

One Week

Last week was busy (what week isn't?) and hopefully I'll be a bit better at blogging this week. I really need to come up with a new blog header because the one I have is over a year old. It's definitive time to change it! Doorbuster is not a baby anymore, he is very much a toddler.

Last week we had a ES meeting, and the kids are all going great and progressing. I am loving Lexia and Singapore Math. I can see the kids making lots of progress with them. After the meeting we met a friend at the park and played for 4 hours. It was a perfect day- blue sky, 70 degrees, slight breeze. It doesn't get more beautiful then that. The best part of the park was this funky, brushy grass. The kids could burrow down and hide in it so we couldn't see them. We even lost Daredevil at one point. We were yelling and he couldn't hear us, and he was well hidden. It was a blast.

There are 5 kids in this picture. See them?

For the weekend, we stayed home and did nothing but change from one pair of pajamas to another. It was great. We played video games, computer games, made popcorn, made open faced meatloaf sandwiches and cleaned the yard. I even managed to get 90% of the laundry done, and to lay on the couch and watch some TV. I watched an hour of it before I was bored. I rarely, rarely watch TV. If I am, I usually cut and organize coupons at the same time. I also did a little bit of couponing. Managed to grab some clearanced hair dye I had coupons for, some cheap blistex, and ziploc baggies.

Now it's back to our usual routine of schoolwork, cleaning, lessons, work, etc. I've got to figure out what I want to buy for them to do for Science, or if we should go back to snap circuits for a bit. Or maybe both. I want to take everyone on another field trip, just need to decide where!

Simple Daybook 1/10

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Beautiful, sunny, blue sky, not too hot or cold, lovely day.

I am thinking... About how I was slacking on my WoW toons, slacking on learning the fights, and I need to come up with something for dinner tonight between dance class and raid, since hubby will be home late. Also thinking about needing to put in some laundry, and that the kids can't do Awana games practice because it is the same time as drum lessons. 

I am thankful... For having enough. And for glass jars for applesauce, since I will wash them and reuse them for something else. 

In the kitchen... it's slightly messy, don't go in there! I need to empty the dishwasher and reload it again with all the odds and ends stuff that needs to be washed. Then I am going to make some chocolate chip and peanut butter chip cookies sometime this week. 

I am wearing... Running shoes, capri shorts, pink shirt. 

I am creating... I'm creating smart children at the moment. My new kindle is taking up my creating time, I've read the Hunger Games series, and am reading a really good kindle book I got for free. 

I am going... Crazy because two children are going at it and annoying each other, and bothering their brother who still is working on schoolwork. 

I am wondering... When the w-2's will get here so I can do taxes, and how to get Princess to quit changing her clothes a million times a day. 

I am reading... The Witness by Dee Henderson (because it was free, and it's pretty good so far)

I am hoping... for our teacher meeting to go well, for the kids to remember all they need to remember, for the leaves to just finish falling off the tree so we can be done raking them up. 

I am looking forward to... The kids teacher meeting since after it we go out to lunch and visit with friends. We'll trade coupons and deals. 

I am learning... How to be patient

Around the house... We have all the Christmas decorations down except for the lights in the front window. We also got the backyard and front yard straightened up so they look nice. That was my big goal for the weekend. 

I am pondering... The kids keep fighting and it's driving me batty, but I know they need to work it out themselves at this point. 

A favorite quote for today...  “Destroying things is much easier than making them.” ~Hunger Games

One of my favorite things... how helpful the kids were at our grocery trip. They unloaded the cart, bagged the groceries, put them in the car and brought them in. They were so helpful! 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Dance class, PE Class, C2 5k day 3 (I've been slacking, oops), drum lessons, Awanas, Teacher Meeting, Maybe the park, room reorganizing. 

A peek into my day... MOOOOOOM! Moooom! NOOO! That's MY CAR! It's MINE! He toook my CAAAARRRRR! MOM! He's sitting on my car!!! I don't want him playing with meeee!!! NO!! Don't play that waaaaaaayyyyy! 


(Me thinks a nap is in order very soon)




Link up your day over at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

My Hubby is Awesome!

My Hubby is awesome because.....

He goes to the store and uses my $.80 off coupon because it was important to me, and even took 2 kids with him.

He's not afraid to get messy with the kids.

He makes dinner, and will even arrange my plate so everything looks as pretty as a picture.

He goes on a bike ride with all the kids to get donuts in the morning, while I can stay home and enjoy some quiet (well, I mopped the floor without anyone walking on it).

He is always willing to help anyone who needs help, from taping a video to fixing sprinklers.

He waits with the little one(s) so I can ride roller coasters for the 93483 time.

He wins all the tickets at Chuck E Cheese, so no one is sad they didn't get a prize.

He knows I work hard at home, and that my work is more important here then anywhere else.

He helps out with homeschooling.

He works really hard at making the grass in the backyard green and perfect, just because I like the grass to look that way.

He comes home from working his 10 hour day and makes dinner so I can raid, and keeps the kids out of my hair while I do.

He gets really dirty and fixes our cars, so we can save money. He will even dig in and fix things after watching a you tube video for it. Like the Wii, and the dryer.

He doesn't complain or call and bug when I say, "I'm just running to Target, be back in an hour", and that hour turns into 4 or 5 and a few different stores.

He gives the best back rubs and lets me have 11/12ths of the bed, and all of the blankets.

He dresses up like a cow for free food, without complaining.

He doesn't mind what I spend money on, or that I spent most of the summer going from water park to water park.

He works hard for our family at work every day.

And.....he's awesome because he started his own blog. Go check him out at Daddy Said Yes! 

Walmart Trip- Price Match + Coupons are awesome!

If you haven't been price matching at Walmart, you are missing out! It's easy, really, and you don't even need the ad. Our Walmart is usually overpriced in my opinion. Sometimes I can find an item cheaper but most of the time, it's more expensive then I can get it. To make it easy on myself and the cashier, I split my items into the ones I price match and the ones I don't.

Today I did:
General Mills Cereal- $1.38 for the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, $1.13 for the Cheerios (Price matched Staters $1.88 each, used $.50 off CTC, $1.00 off any two General Mills Cereal, $.75 off Cheerios)
Old Spice- Free + $.2 Money Maker (Price matched Food 4 Less at $1.98, used $2/1 coupons)
Always Pads- $.98 (Price matched Food 4 Less at $1.98, used $1/1 coupons)
Reach Floss- Free + $.3 Money Maker ($.97 each, used $1/1 coupons)
Colgate Toothpaste $.19 each ($.94 each, used $.75/1 coupons)
Colgate Toothbrush $.19 each ($.94 each, used $.75/1 coupons)

Not a bad trip, and we are well stocked up on cereal now. Daredevil is very excited, it's his favorite cereal and he likes it as a snack too.