For my grandma

My grandmother is extremely important to me. She raised me from when I was a young child..and now she is there for me whenever I need her. I still sometimes get a little sad that I no longer live in her house. It's just a security/comfort thing. Don't get me wrong though. I love where we live now and it definitely has formed into our home. I really appreciate my grandma. And as I grow into my own person day by day and as she grows older as well, I really want her to know what exactly I am thankful for.

Grandma, I am thankful that even though you weren't exactly ready to take me in and raise me, you did. I'm thankful that you would rock me in your rocking chair when I was sick. I had many ear infections that kept me up late at night, and even if you had to work early the next morning you did whatever you could to try to make me comfortable.Even if that meant bringing me to work and me sleeping in Dr. R's chair. I'm thankful for you rescuing me from bad situations and even driving hours if it meant I would then be safe with you. I'm thankful for the fact that you took me on many different adventures and even if I hated some of them, they are now memories I will always have of you. I am thankful that anytime I wasn't at home you were a phone call away. Thank you for August. I loved her. Thank you for the swing set in your backyard. Thank you for your garden. Thank you for the beach. Thank you for the flowers you used to have in the front of your house. Thank you for the piano. Thank you for helping clean up the chalk filled kittens. Thank you for all the cupcakes and ice cream cakes for every birthday I had growing up. Thank you for the furby. Thank you for letting me use the red paint in the driveway. Thank you for playing frisbee with me. Thank you for the walks to the end of your block to look at the moon over the lake. Thanks for all the all trips that always ended up with us fighting. I could go on.

Thank you now for being a awesome great grandmother to my own children. Thank you for doing lots of the things with them that you did with me growing up. Thank you for all the favors you do for us and always being just phone call and short drive away. I'm happy that I can count on you and I appreciate absolutely everything. Thank you for being my rock, being strong for me when I wasn't sure I had it in me. Thank you for holding me as I cried because I wanted things to be different all through the years. Even if things weren't always ideal and I had hard time accepting reality at time thanks for helping me through it and building me up to the woman I am today.

I know I haven't been on here lately. But, I have been crazy busy lately. I have so much going on right now and I am trying to get organized and make sure everyone here is happy. And that may seem simple but, it really isn't. I have been busy with school..luckily for the rest of this class I will not have homework. Just a final exam that's due the day after my birthday. I plan on finishing that before my birthday.. that way I have a reason to go out and celebrate..other than it being my birthday. I start a new job this week. I am super excited about that but I am not exactly sure how getting my kids up and out the door by 5am is going to go :/
I guess it will all play out but trying to get all my ducks in a row has been slightly stressful. So I decided to take a break from this and focus on all of that. Soon I will be posting a "whats for dinner" I keep sending the pictures to my email and that's not seeming to work like it normally does so.. be patient it's coming :)

It's potty time!

At 16 months old my youngest has shown signs of being ready to start going on the potty...
So here are some tips on getting your child ready, as well as starting the process

1.Get a potty chair around their 1st birthday, this makes it less scary for them. They will see it sitting in the bathroom, or any other room you prefer and become comfortable with it.

2.Bring them in the bathroom with you when you go, tell them what you are doing,every single time. That way the words become familiar and they start to understand exactly what you are talking to them about.

3.Eventually after step 2 start to sit them on the potty while you are going or before bath time

4.Do not rush them force them or make them sit until they go. This scares them. This is an entirely new process to them. The world is big and new for quite a long time and rushing them can make the process a lot longer.

5. When they do go make sure to cheer them on and make it a really big deal. But, do not give them candy or anything else. Sure it might work for a little bit but eventually they get older and expect it every single time. I don't know about you but I don't get chocolate or a sticker when I go (laughs)

6. When you are at home, let them run around without anything on the bottom. This makes them less likely to have an accident. There is nothing to catch it. They want to go sit on the potty to empty.

7. Make sure to tell people about their potty accomplishments. They will feel really proud and excited.

8.Be patient. Every child does things at a different pace. Make this an exciting time, not a stressful one


(the potty pictured is the one we have for our daughter, it's simple. If my husband would of picked one out it would of sang and made flushing noises ;) )

In my daughters eyes

Today was one of those days where I was super stressed. I woke up and got my oldest ready for school. After she was on the bus and off to school. I sat down to finish up my homework before my other two kids woke up.  I also had stayed up late the night before doing homework. When I went to bed, right as I was about to fall asleep, my youngest woke up. So I really did not get a good nights sleep. So anyways back on track.. I did some homework..and then realized my dog threw up in her kennel ( she goes in there at night). So I cleaned that up. I should of figured right then, that my day was not going to go smoothly. After that my son had woken up and shortly after my youngest daughter. I went into her room picked her up and she had leaked through her diaper head to toe.. so I gave her a bath. At that point I was grabbing her stuff for when she was done and realized.. I have less then 5 diapers left. 5. How did I let that happen. In the past 6 years I have no once ran out of anything. I always make sure we have backup way before we run out. But, obviously my mind has been so all over the place with school and everything else. This doesn't seem the biggest of deals. But it was to me. I just wasn't feeling to great about myself.. I was slacking. I had 5 zillion more things to do before I left for school but, I obviously had to pack up to go to the store. I hate feeling rushed. hate it. I will skip my store trip because it wasn't eventful.. Minus the fact that as I was packing my kids up to go back home I caught my pants on a corner and ripped my pants ._.
So anyways... ( I know, I'm getting distracted, that is just the kind of day i'm having)
     Today is one of those days where I need to remind myself that, I really am a good mom and i know my kids appreciate me. My oldest daughter reminds me of this quite often, which I am very thankful for. Just recently in school she told her teacher she wanted to be a Mom when she grows up. A mom just like hers.
She then continued on to tell her teacher what Mom's all do. And she has also told me. Sometimes hearing it from our own little people has a WAY bigger affect on us than it would from other people. Especially when we think no one notices all that we do. If you would ask my daughter what a mom does.. this is what she would tell you..
Moms make us food. Moms wash our clothes. Moms clean up messes. Moms teach us things. Moms keep us safe. Moms help us with things. Moms take care of us. Moms read to us. Moms play with us. Moms make sure we have clothes. Moms help us if we are hurt.

I'm sure the list could obviously go on but, the point is. Mom's do more than what they are sometimes accounted for. When my daughter tells me these things and tells me how much she loves me and how happy she is that I do so much for her, it really hits me. When she first told me some of these things, I cried. It meant so much to hear that from her. To know at five years old she is so smart and so aware of her surroundings. I'm proud of her. I'm proud of myself. On days like today, I really try to take a step back and tell myself that it's okay to have off days..because I am obviously doing something right. All Moms need that reminder. Even if sometimes it seems as if nobody notices a thing you do, they do.

How I feel about Co-sleeping and Why

If you weren't able to tell from my cry it out method post, We do not co-sleep in our house. In the first 9 months of L's life, in the middle of the night I would lay in bed to feed her but, as soon as she was done and back asleep, I would carry her right back into her room and lay her in her crib. My husband has joked about letting her sleep with us if she was having a rough night but, it has never happened and here is why...

First off, I see my bed as my own special little haven at the end of the day. I want to curl up in it after my day either by myself or with my husband. I already spent my entire day or most of it with my little people. I love them to death but to me, when i lay in bed, that's my "me" time. To relax and not worry about rolling on someone else or waking anyone else up. If you are like me, you spent at least half of your day running around with your head dangling from your body (not literally) because you are running back and forth doing things for everyone you live with[hahaha]. Second, Like I said previously.. I want my children to have more independence and not have to rely on us next to them for comfort. The world is big and I think life skills are important to learn when you are young. Even if you don't even realize that its a life skill. And believe me I am well aware that no teenager is going to be sleeping in their parents bed.. But I still want my bed to bed for my husband and I. Third, If I want to be intimate with my husband, I don't want to have to worry about other people in my bed, or finding somewhere else to do it. I'm also not saying the bed is the only option because it isn't but Id like it to be available when I want it to be. I've seen this ecard (shown below) very often and I know it's meant to be funny but, I find it annoying.

I'm sure co-sleepers are having plenty of sex but, I'd miss my bed at night.
Fourth, People say you develop a closeness to your child while co-sleeping which I'm sure is  very true but just because I don't have my children in bed with me every night does not mean we aren't close or have a special bond. We do. I cuddle my children all the time and do activities with them yada yada yada. And believe it or not. I've asked my older two on occasion (if dad was out of town or something) if they wanted to sleep with me and they usually say no (its happened on occasion but not often). They also like the comfort of their own beds by themselves and it makes me sad and happy all at the same time. Sad because they are growing up and are becoming independent people. Happy because I know that what I am doing is working. I'm proud of the mother I am and the one that is still developing. Lastly, Co-sleeping is and has been found to be dangerous. There have been numerous deaths from Co-sleeping. People roll on their young infants, they fall into the cracks of the bed and so on. I'm not trying to freak anyone out but that's the truth. And I'm sure lots of people believe there is no way that could happen to them. That they do it in a safe way. But I'm sure the people who endured this tragedy were thinking the same thing. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have plenty of mommy friends who are all for co-sleeping. I'm just not one of them.  I absolutely love when my children want to just cuddle, which doesn't happen often anymore because all of them are on the go most of the time. But, I seem to be good enough when they aren't feeling very good, and I'll take it. Basically, I just really like my bed... and my room. It's the only room in the house that has not been taken over by my little people..or their things. I think all mamas deserve some time to unwind and relax....even if it's just getting to lay in your bed....all alone.

What's for Dinner?

As I go on I will try to post what I made for dinner. Maybe not daily. Considering Somedays we go out and others days we are on the go and we make frozen meals or make sandwiches. But, I try to make actual meals a few times a week and I will share them with you. Tonight we are having.....


ONE PAN/SKILLET LASAGNA
(i got this off of pinterest but I switched it up and did not add everything they did and changed a few ingredients) 
What you will need:
1 lb meat. whatever kind you prefer
1 can tomatoes or a chopped fresh tomato (I am busy and its easier for me to get a can of diced)
1  24oz can of tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste + 2 cans water
2 9 oz packagies of cheese raviolli. I use 1 1/2
8 oz of mozz cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ( i just used the container of it and sprinkle it on)
I'm using dried garlic and dried parsley and adding 2 tablespoons of each, whereas the original recipe I found calls for fresh of both. If you would like to do this you would  add 1/2 cup of fresh parsley and 2 minced cloves of garlic

Here is a picture of my ingredients:

1. cook the meat and drain
2. Add sauce,tomatoes,garlic and parsley
3.bring to a boil
4.reduce heat
5.simmer 15-20 minutes until tender and sauce has thickened. After this is done add cheese(s)

Snow

We got a bit of snow through the day yesterday and well into the evening. L has yet to experience snow. Yes, I know its well into February and this should of happened quite a bit ago. But, it's been cold and we did not buy boots for her until last night. It's not like she walks around outside very often its more the less us carrying her out to our vehicles when we leave. She has of course seen snow but until today she has never felt it sat in it or anything else. So since it a whopping 28 degrees outside I decided we would make it happen. We burn our garbage here so I brought her out with me so I could bring a bag out to our barrel. I sat her down in it and snapped some pictures and a short video to show to her Daddy later. Needless to say she loved it! She giggled and even took a mitten off to touch it. When I brought her in she screamed her head off and laid on the floor face down :P she got over it quick but I am sure we will be venturing outside with her in tow again soon.

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Getting my beans to sleep ALL night

It's a little after 7am and yes I decided to talk about sleep. Maybe because I wish I was sound asleep in my bed still. But mama duty called shortly after six. I got K ready and off to school, and now I'm sitting here and decided..hmm I am going to whip out how i feel about sleep {in children that is}

I decided on this subject because I feel its very controversial. People have so many different views and, lots of the time people aren't really on the same page about it. Luckily my husband and I are. So it was pretty easy to get a routine down after deciding what was really for us.

I am 100% for the cry it out method. If they need something else by all means give it them. But, I see nothing wrong with letting a child cry once in awhile. I use certain rules/guidelines for this. Before you put your child down for bed make sure that #1 they are changed #1 they are fed #3 they are SAFE. I've been noticing more and more that people get really touchy about this subject, another reason I decided to whip it out first.
When you put your child down especially for the first how ever many times, they will cry. This is going to make you feel probably pretty sad. Because they do want you. But my big thing is independence. I myself, want my children to learn to do things by their selves. During life they are going to have lots of things come at them from birth on. I want them to be ready and able to tackle these things on their own. It by all means does not mean I am or will not be there for them. Because I will be, I am their biggest fan. With our youngest child we started the crying out method between 4-5 months. At that time I was still breastfeeding so if she cried to long I would feed her and put her back into bed. Sometimes she would wake up but I would try to leave her and follow my three rules and go over them in my head. I read up on this method before doing it and I would check on her (without her seeing me) every so often. I also want to note that we were lucky and the longest we really to endure the crying was an hour. Some people have to wait longer, which I'm sure makes it even harder. My child was sad which made me feel sad but, she was okay and would eventually fall asleep. And she did eventually fall asleep..every single time. Some nights were rough, others seemed far too easy. Another thing we did when we first started this was go in the living room and turn the tv on so we had other noise and werent 100% focused on the crying. We needed a distraction, not to ignore her but so we didnt cave in. And it really did help! Shes 16 months old now and some nights she still cries. It's rare, usually she just kinda whines and in less than 5 minutes we do not hear a peep. Last night was one of those nights where she cried and my husband and I sat on the couch glancing up at each other wondering if we were going to have to make a trip in there. She stopped in less than 15 minutes, probably closer to 10. The crying it out method was extremely tough to do at first. We felt bad hearing her sad, knowing if we just rocked her or something she would pass out. But, I really wanted her to be able to sooth herself to sleep and be able to do the same if she woke up in the night just like us adults and my other children do. It might of been difficult to do at first but, I'm thankful for the full uninterrupted sleep I have been getting ever since. Trust me, you can get a full nights sleep with children. It's possible, forget what everyone else says ;) Some may question this and say there is no way they could do this to their child, which is fine. But, I do have three children, one who is almost almost six and I did the same thing to her and my son and it worked for them as well. So I have been sleeping pretty dang good my last ALMOST 6 years of motherhood. And once baby #4 is on the way, I plan to do the same thing.

Popping my blogging cherry

Welcome to my first blog! I'm not 100% sure what subjects I plan on talking about quite yet but, what I do know is that I live in a crazy house and I mostly want to share how i get through some of my worst days, parenting tips,recipes, and a entire bundle of other things. But first I will introduce myself,my other half and our three beans.

Myself:
I'm currently a stay at home mom and a part-time student. I also watch another child in my house three days a week. I get two out of three of my children off to school at total opposite times and juggle everything else in between. On the days I do not have school, I also try to have a meal ready for when everyone arrives home so we can all eat together, Because...that time to unwind together and talk about our days is very important in my eyes. Oh, and I have a sense of humor and I tend to be quite sarcastic ;)


My husband:
My husband and I will be married three years this fall. He totally keeps me grounded and helps me get my head on straight when I am feeling way out of whack. He works full-time but is always home for dinner ;) He's an awesome Daddy. Everyday I see him with them my heart melts.

K:
K is 5 years old and currently in kindergarten. Shes our ball of energy who is quite intelligent if I do say so myself. You can't get anything past her sharp little mind. She absolutely loves school and she also goes to dance class once a week which she also very much enjoys.

C:
C is 3 years old and he is currently in 3k. He loves going to school and is always smiling. He's more timid than his sisters. By this I mean that he is not as dramatic or loud and is not one to throw massive fits. He's very sweet and I hope he always stays mamas sweet little man.

L:
L turned 1 years old this past October. She's feisty and full of giggles. She gets into pretty much anything you could possibly imagine. Her vocabulary is quickly expanding and even though we cannot always understand her, we can tell she understand at least 90% of what we say to her.She often walks on her toes and keeps us on ours.

(As you could probably tell,I didn't use anyone's full names right now, that could possibly change in the future)