Super Skate Floor Clean Boogie

Sometimes, when you want to get the kids to do a job it helps if you can find a way to make it fun (ok now I'm singing Mary Poppins in my head.) Yesterday we needed to get some cleaning done and I was determined to get help. Because seriously, I just can't do it all myself. Primarily because if they are playing while I am cleaning it is just one big tornado of mess everywhere except where I just cleaned. Fun stuff.

Anyway, I really, really didn't want to mop. Yet, the floor was extremely dirty and my mom will be here tomorrow. Plus I haaaaate it when the floor is filthy, so I was trying to think of a way to really quickly get it clean.

So I pulled out every cleaning towel I own, dunked them in soapy water and told them to skate the floor clean. It took about 10 minutes, they had fun, I did the wood floor while they did the tile, and then we were all set to go to the pool. It also helps to come up with a completely fun (if utterly ridiculous) name for it.

While the floor may not be *as* clean as if I had properly done the job myself, it looks pretty darn good. We'll be using this technique again.

Another Taste

Another taste... this time of how you can do every single thing your child wants to do and still have him treat you like crap. Oh the fun!

Today was another great day. The big boys went to school (yay!), the little ones and I cleaned a little, went to playgroup, came home and Ben napped while Zack played and I got a few much needed things done.

I figured Mark would come home happy. Today was their Splash Day in which they get to play on water slides and bounce houses at school, as well as other crazy water games. Should have been a good day. He did come home happy. We played with clay, and then he made a guy out of wooden skewers and when I say he made I mean he laid the guy out and then ordered me to hot glue it onto a big sheet of paper so he could cut it out. Any guesses who cut it out.

All of this was fun and I was kind of feeling like a good mommy for having my chores done so we could play when they got home from school. Then he fell asleep on the couch for about 3 minutes and when he woke up OH BOY suddenly his day sucked.

And it must have been all my fault, naturally because nothing made the child happy. Nothing. He didn't want meatballs in his spaghetti and he was NOT going to eat a VEGETABLE (the horror!) and there were tears involved and frayed nerves too.

Then somewhere through dinner Mark decided he liked meatballs (vegetables too) and then I didn't stop them when they took water & soap outside to play in bubbly water.

Somewhere along the way it all went awry and I ended up putting them to bed at 6:45. Which brings us to now and there's some unholy racket up there so I must end this post and go deal with that.

And something tells me this is what I get for having such a lovely day yesterday and thinking that might be what summer is going to be like. Me jumping through hoops only to have someone mad at me all the time. Reality check, anyone?

Brotherly Love

Brotherly love is giving your younger brother half of your tooth fairy money AND half of your "no potty words for a whole day" money. Mark gained $1.25 out of Eric's generosity. I find myself saying, "should I let him do it? What if he regrets this later?" Then I thought why not? I did ask Eric if he was sure he wanted to give it away and he said yes. So, I swallowed the desire to say "NO" and let him be giving. It's a trait I definitely want to encourage. I just hope I don't hear about it later.

Brotherly love is the hug you get from your brothers at preschool dropoff. All the parents comment on how sweet this is. It makes my mommy heart swell.

Brotherly love is sitting on your one year old brother while he screams bloody murder until mommy stops you. Okay, not so much. But I'm not sure Zack realizes that's not a good way to express affection.

Addendum:

Brotherly love is playing 2 player bowling on Wii so that your 2 year old brother thinks he is playing. Thanks Mark, that really helped your momma out today!

Brotherly love is singing "Benny Ben don't cy, Benny Ben, don't cy" when your baby brother is crying in the car. Thanks Zack! I know you really love your brother and it does wonders for your momma's nerves when Ben stops crying when you sing to him. Amazing!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of my mommy friends! Also, I hope my mom and mother-in-law both had fantastic days! They are great mothers and deserve the best!


As for me, my sixth year celebrating the holiday was pretty great. I started out the day with a pretty good attitude and no grand expectations thanks to my friend Shanna's reminder earlier in the week of what this day is all about. Then early this morning, I read my other friend Sue's blog and there was another beautiful post all about moms, and her mothering experience. Thanks girls for your insight and thoughts on this topic. I am lucky to have you both as friends and I am thankful that through the internet I can pick your brains, so to speak, and learn from your experiences. Happy Mother's Day to you!

When at the early hour of 6:07 my boys rush into my room announcing they had made me breakfast (keep in mind Kevin and I had been in bed sound asleep), I was alarmed and rushed to see what insanity was going on in the kitchen. Fortunately for me, it was a bowl of cereal. Whew! They were even considerate enough to not pour the milk yet "so it wouldn't get soggy." Pretty awesome if you ask me! It wasn't too long later that Kevin got up and made us a real breakfast and then I sat on the couch to read (remember the book I won? Good one! And I'll talk more on that after I finish it!) Then my husband said to me "excuse me ma'am, there is no reading in here. Take that to the bedroom." Which clearly told me something was up. I obliged and took my book into my bedroom. The tub was calling my name so I ran a bath and soaked and read for a little while, enjoying the quiet (and no one knocking on the door, score!) I got out and they were ready for me. I had two original masterpieces designed by Eric and Mark. Apparently, Zack didn't WANT to draw mommy a picture (oh no, remember, that's MY job), and Ben thinks crayons are snacks so I just had the two. But it was great. And a letter, which was so funny that I'll type it out here.




Mommy Shore Excursion: (haha cruise joke!)**



Activities included:
Massage relaxation at Spa Bella (call ***-***-****) and act like they don't know who you are and there are no pre-made arrangements)
Shopping trip, minimum $50.00 spending limit (Kohl's gift card included!)**


Limitations: No children are allowed.
You pick the day you want to go.

** comments added by me.

I loved it. First of all, I have never had a massage and it's one of those things I would never just do so I'm excited! (I need advice on massages though. Swedish? Hot Stone? Tell me what to do.) And it had the added benefit of making me laugh. Oh! And I get to go shopping. Alone. YAY! I really didn't need a gift but to feel appreciation was so very nice.

Then we hemmed and hawed about what to do with the day and decided to go to the beach. I love the beach! Ben is old enough now to romp around and play and actually enjoy it, whereas previously it had been kinda miserable for him, so I'm thrilled that he can have fun there too now, because we LOVE the beach.

After we got home we had lunch, and I took a nap! (I think the last time I took a nap was my birthday, and we just enjoyed the day. Kevin cooked a wonderful dinner and we put the kids to bed early. It was time, that's all I'm saying.

A huge thanks to my amazing family for making my day incredible. I love you!