That's what friends are for...

Why is it that I have no desire to hang out with my friends who don't have kids?

I get all these invitations and emails for coffee or holiday parties at bars...and I groan.  Is it the thought of drinking and having to pump in an inebriated state.  (Because I am such a boozer) Or is it because I'm tired as H E double hockeysticks?

Or is it because, by no fault of their own, they don't have any interest or clue as to what my days are like and I really would rather spend the time talking about my BabyAngels obsessively?

Yes.

Caloric intake of sand and someone else's germs?

For the first time in my very short life I went to the park TWICE today.  What a good mom am I.

This morning we joined my friend, Louise, and her kids at the Bluffs park from Hell and after a very early nap 12:30! we met up with our playgroup at the Tot Lot.

W helped himself to a mouthful of sand in the dreaded sandbox at the Bluffs and later, at the Tot Lot, confused someone else's yellow Nuby for his own.

Eck....not that I didn't have the urge to wash his mouth out with CleanWell, but I pondered whether or not I should have freaked out.

Almost as bad as when Curly drank from the toilet on Tuesday...

Maybe I'm not feeding them enough?

Little Jacky Rabbit wouldn't go to sleep

Another one bites the dust - he's pushing the envelope at bedtime again.

"Mom, I have to go poop."

"Mom, I need the bee thing (honey scooper)."

"Mom....."

The sad thing is that the more he gets up, the more frustrated I become, the more tired his brother gets and the more Oreos I pop into my mouth when I get back into the kitchen to finish unloading the dishwasher.

Am I being too harsh when I don't allow him to have the light on?  I convince myself that I'm doing it for Spike's sake.  Is it my own selfishness that requires them to share a room?  (not wanting to put a bed in the office).

I almost can't remember how long he would cry if I just turned out the light and shut the door.  Maybe I'll let Daddy deal with that one tomorrow night...

Of course, he'll go right to bed when Dad's here.  I just know it.

Mommies Gone Wild!

What happens when 5 moms with 12 kids between them go out of town 2 hours away for 24 1/2 hours? Peaceful relaxation, good wine and uninterrupted adult conversations! About our kids, of course, but nonetheless. I forgot how easy it is to leave the kids (and I have a 3 month old, mind you) for just one night and know they'll survive. A relaxed Mommy is the best kind of Mommy. I highly recommend you and a few friends do it.

Spa treatments, dinner, brunch, shopping - not all necessary, but all can be done within a budget. Some suggestions - Get the hotel room on Priceline. Ask if there's a smaller fee to enjoy just the jacuzzi and steam room at the spa. Make dinner out of happy hour specials and bring your own wine to enjoy in the room later.

BabyDaddy even sponsored the first bottle at dinner and earned more bonus points. Another husband made a special "Welcome Home Mommy" meal that got him at least one foot massage, I'm sure.

Despire the looks of horror on our faces as we watched the "Liquid Gold" go down the drain, two of us even pumped and dumped with glee because of the overall feeling of "getting away" in a way that Calgon can't provide.

more home cleaners - but i have to clean up the text and spacing..sorry.

All Purpose Cleaner:1/2 tsp. Washing Soda2 tsp. Borax1/2 tsp Liquid Soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap- I like Tea Tree!)2 cups Hot Water (distilled preferably)a few drops each of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus essential oils
-Glass Cleaner1/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar1/2 tsp Liquid Soap (once again,t he Dr. Bronner’s is a great pick!)2 cups Hot Water (distilled preferably)
-Toilet CleanerSprinkle 1/2 cup Baking Soda and 1/2 cup Distilled White Vinegar in your bowl, swish and let sit. When you flush the bowl will sparkle!
-Furniture PolishOlive Oil, baby! Enough said!
-Floor CleanerCreate a 3 to 1 Water to Distilled White Vinegar ratio and scrub those floors- they will be spotless!
-Fabric SoftenerReplace your normal fabric softener with Distilled White Vinegar. Your clothes will come out fresh and soft, and no, they won’t smell like vinegar!
-Dryer SheetsReplace with reusable Dryer Balls (blue rubber balls with nubs on them)found online or in stores some chain stores. They keep your clothes soft and reduce static.
Make your own bread! I know it may sound like more work, but channeling our foremothers really might do us some good here! Not only is it more nutritious, but the less processed your ingredients, the cheaper it is. Bulk grain that you mill yourself (in a powerful blender or grain mill) is very affordable and allows you to be more picky about where your grain is coming from. Make large batches and freeze lots of loaves at one time to minimize your work. Trust me, your family, your budget, your tastebuds and your planet will thank you! (For lots of info and products to get your started you can visit UrbanHomemaker.com)
Use Cloth Diapers and Wipes! Far from the pins and plastic pants that your grandparents used, cloth diapers these days are actually cute and incredibly easy to use! Still have doubts? Just check out some of the adorable products on KellysCloset.com. Still not convinced? Have a peek at the info on RealDiaperAssociation.org and you may change your mind. Need one last shove? Go to DiaperPin.com and try out the diaper calculator to see just how much money you could be saving by greening up your babe’s bum!

Homemade bath bombs

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/02/05/how-to-make-bath-bombs/

Quick, easy and fun!

Thanks to Skip To My Lou! She's always got awesome stuff!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Free, printable Valentine cards

http://secret-agent-josephine.com/blog/2009/02/06/free-valentines-for-you/

Cute printables for your kids to color =)