Are you kidding me???

Erik's family celebrated Christmas together on December 21 this year since that was when everybody was off work. Ryan ran into my mother-in-law's living room, grabbed the biggest present and proceded to start opening it! We had to remind him to wait and that the present wasn't even his anyway... It was a great family time, but it got the kids in the mood to open gifts. Since we had four days left until Christmas, I spent a considerable amount of time telling the kids that it wasn't time yet to open the presents under our tree! I seemed to constantly be finding a bow that William would have stripped off a gift and be returning it to the rightful box. I finally started returning errant bows to the rubbermaid storage container.

Christmas Eve Ryan and I had a conversation where he kept asking why we couldn't open the presents and I had to remind him that Christmas wasn't until tomorrow. Christmas morning Erik went into the boys' bedroom to wake them up. Ryan snuggled into Erik's lap and when greeted with "Merry Christmas" responded "No, Daddy. Mommy said Christmas is not until tomorrow." Erik laughed and replied that it was indded Christmas morning and time to open presents. The wonderful little three-year-old started to get hopeful, but almost couldn't believe it and out came "Are you kidding me?!?"

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas! What a wonderful time of year! Yes, I have to admit, I love presents. I love shopping for them, wrapping them, watching my loved ones open them, and yes, opening mine! Christmas decorating, spending time with family, and eating fudge all top my list of favorite things. Best of all, is the reminder of the most wonderful gift of all: God's son Jesus. This year was very special because I was able to do advent activities daily with the boys. Ok, so confession: Ryan and I frequently did them while William was taking a nap because it was easier with the tornado out of the way... We have a wonderful advent wreath with miniatur nativity characters and each day one is revealed and hung on the calender. Ryan thorougly enjoyed opening the little doors and would ask "What is it" when something new appeared. And each day we reviewed the story and he even learned that angels say "Glory to God!" Then we would light the advent candles and read the Christmas story from the Bible with the Little People nativity set helping to tell the story. (BTW, that was one of the best gifts ever--they're practicly indestructible, and this way the children have some Christmas item that they're actually allowed to play with). We have tried very hard to teach the children that Christmas is about Jesus and not about being greedy and getting presents. I hope that they found the special times of learning together just as special as I did.

Family Decorating

Some people despise traditions because they disdain doing the same thing in the same way. Some people love traditions because they find comfort in turning occasions into special events. I happen to be one of the latter. Growing up, we knew what putting up the Christmas tree was going to be like. My mom and I would bake chocolate chip cookies and defend the dough against encroaching brothers and dad with wooden spoons if necessary. The smell of cookies would fill the air while the guys got all the decorations down from the attic. Lights would be strung out to check and see which bulbs were missing. My dad, an engineer, would string the lighs around the tree, methodically placing strands on every branch. Then mom would sit in the wingback chair and pass out ornaments for us to hang on the tree. To some people, it would be monotonous, but to us it was special. There was comfort, familiarity, and we looked forward to it every year just after Thanksgiving.

When I married my husband and I had a discussion about traditions. He's not exactly huge on them, but nor does he despise them. He didn't object to the chocolate chip cookies, though! :) we looked forward to starting our family, blending our traditions, and creating some new ones. We don't push the "perfect" traditions, but go with the flow. The last couple of years we have decorated the tree while children were asleep. Last week when we decorated we decided to allow Ryan to help out. We did, however, decorate the tree when William was in bed. Erik and I carefully separated the glass ornaments from the wooden and plastic ones and asked Ryan to help. It was so much fun to watch! He would take one and carefully eyeball and circle the tree, looking for just the perfect spot. He even told me so! The real laughter came when Erik and I realized that all the ornaments had gone on the exact same spot anyway! All of that effort and 5 ornaments hung from the same branch. To not ruin the child's joy, DH went quietly behind our son and redistributed.

Another thing that I really enjoyed was watching his excitement as I opened the large box containing the Christmas decorations. "What is that, Mommy?" and "Wow!" were frequently heard. I showed him pictures of his daddy of his "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament, and the wooden bear that I had painted about 6 different colors when I was 4. We enjoyed being together. Ryan's childish giggles and amazement made me certain that this is one tradition I always want to continue.

Martha, Martha

Shakespeare called it "the witching hour." Although I do not believe in magic, just about every mother can testify that there is a certain time in the evening in which her children borrow a few pages from the Tasmanian Devil's playbook. This unruly, whiny time always seems to occur in the evening rather than earlier in the day when Mommy is tired and least capable of dealing with it in a rational manner.

This evening was no such exception. William had already been pulled off the kitchen table three times, out of two different cabinets, out of the dog's water bowl twice, and was now attempting to climb my legs and screaming his frustration at his lack of success. I knew that he was hungry, he had already downed a full cup of milk, and I was desperately trying to finish supper (ever notice how it takes an hour to cook a 15-minute dish when kids are present?). Ryan was clamboring on the other side of me trying to get my attention. The dog ran in and out between us just to complete the mayhem and make William's frustration increase another several decibals whenever the giant pink tongue appeared. All of this was happening as I stood in front of a hot stove and tried to ensure that nobody got burned. The third time in 2 seconds that Ryan had called "Mommy," I looked at him and said "Ryan, could you..." my voice trailed off as my frazzled brain couldn't even suggest what toy or activity for him to pursue. That was all right as the smart little guy finished for me with, "Go somewhere else?" I laughed, felt guilty, but was grateful for at least one set of hands to not try to keep away from the hot burner.

William was still trying to turn my legs into a ladder and was getting louder and louder. Obviously, my level of frustration increased and my patience evaporated. Erik heard the clamor and came in to rescue his youngest son and take him to the bath. Instantly the set of eyes fresh to the situation noticed that not only was William hungry, but he was also suffering from the molar that's just coming in. Erik commenting on his way out "William was in pain, and you were to busy to notice." Ouch. True, but Ouch. Brings to mind the story of Martha and Mary in the Bible (Luke 10:38-42). In that moment, trying to provide for my family, I had missed being with my family. I had missed out on the important thing. Yes, my children needed food, but I shouldn't have been so preoccupied that I didn't even notice that my son needed some Tylenol. *note to sef: by more Orajel next time you run to town...* How would the situation have changed had I taken two minutes to take care of William's gums? Today, I decide that I will be Mary instead of Martha.

"B" Happy

Final grades are due to the registrar today, which means that I can view all my grades tomorrow. It's lovely to be able to see them immediately instead of waiting for the grades to be sent in the mail. Just another invention from our impatient society. :) Although I'm most likely going to be on the honor roll again, I thought it was time to reflect on a lesson I learned right after William was born and I had just started the PTA program.

"B" Happy

 So there it was in my hands, another graded exam. It wasn't bleeding red too badly, but just enough life had been drained from several of the problems that the score dropped to a B. Yet more proof that I'm a failure. B's are unacceptable when I'm capable of coming home with A's. Or at least that's what the perfectionistic and somewhat self-destroying internal voice whispers quietly. That insidious whisper intones "are you crazy? Who did you think you were kidding to be trying to go to school, commute a long distance, and be a wife and mother to two small children? You're nothing." Suddenly that voice's logic implodes on itself as I realize that the voice was right about the facts and wrong in the conclusion. I am overwhelmed, overloaded, and any other "over" that you can think of. Yet I am not a failure. The fact that I am able to accomplish this much and even pass my classes, much less ahead of class average, proves my success.

At times the voice is capable of being motivating, of pushing me to achieve all that I am capable of doing. Yet the voice is also stuck slightly behind the times, not realizing that priorities change and the 4.0 grade-point average and another certificate of being on the dean's list are not the only measurements that I judge anymore. Much more important are these: have I read to my children today, prayed for my family, have I done housekeeping basics, packed a lunch for my husband??? Have I tried my best with my limited time to learn that study material? I will admit that it is humbling to see anything less than a ninety on a paper, to worry that the teachers think I am not trying. But in the end life is about more than grades and will it really matter to my future employers or patients that my diploma says "with highest honors?" The grades that I truly want are of more lasting significance; a good relationship with my Savior, my husband, children, and my friends. So I'm going to take that exam and be proud of that grade instead of ashamed. I'm going to be thankful that God is allowing me to do this well period and praise Him for providing for my family. Tomorrow when another grade is handed back, it might still sting if I don't receive an A, but I will not be devestated. I'm going to thank God for all the people praying me through this.

Max Lucado books for children

Max Lucado's Wemmicks collection. Punchinello is a wooden Wemmick who lives in Wemmicksville. He often has escapades of trying to be like the other silly Wemmicks and is left sad and wondering why he isn't happy. Only when he goes to the woodship of Eli, the Wemmick-maker, is he able to solve his problems and receive joy. Wonderful books centered around being who you were created to be and not trying to fit in with others. They are delightfully illustrated as well. I own these two books and read them frequently to my children. The rest of the books in the collection are on birthday and Christmas wish lists.

You Are Mine and If Only I Had a Green Nose (Max Lucado's Wemmicks)


In "You are Mine," Punchinello learns a lesson that having the most stuff is a never-ending, joyless race. He learns that he is special because Eli created him that way. In "If Only I had a Green Nose," Punchinello and his friends succomb to peer pressure to paint their noses. They discover, though, that the fitting in doesn't bring them happiness. (And the rules of what is "in" change frequently!) Being the way their maker designed them is what makes them happy.

Best of All


In this book a famous Wemmick comes to town and sorts the Wemmicks into groups of "good" or "bad" based on what wood they were carved from. Punchinello that Eli created variety for a reason and he is special because he was carved by the master.

Some things are free

Below is a list of things that I've seen either in Women's Day Magazine or on the Today Show, or wherever else I've collected them. Who says you can't get anything for free? All of these sites are either places that I have personally used (which is most of them) or have seen recommended by somplace reliable like Women's Day.

One of my favorites. Like most moms, I am constantly snapping photos of my children. Snapfish makes it easy to download the pictures, send them to relatives, order the prints and have them delivered to my door. You also have the option of having them sent to local places like CVS or Walgreens. You don't pay the shipping then, but you also can't pay online. Just for joining, Snapfish gives you 20 free prints.

How I pay for some of those prints is also really fun. I recently ordered 300 free prints from Snapfish by way of My Coke Rewards. For every coke product (extensive list including Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, Vault, Fanta, Barq's, Pibb, Powerade, and a few others) you receive points that can be redeemed for merchandise, not only from Coca-cola, but from numerous other retailers. A bottle cap receives 3 points, a 12-pack receives 10 points, and a 24-pack receives 20 points. And yes, this does require a purchase, but not necessarily by you. I have relatives who are almost addicted to diet Coke and are very happy to collect the bottle caps and box ends for me. Due to their generosity I'll have enough prints to order my prints after Christmas! There are numerous other prizes as well from the website, including electronics, music, travel sweepstakes, and the like. I just happen to be a photo nut. And my snapfish deal? 64 points=50 free prints. One Thanksgiving weekend can pay for the prints to document the occasion. Not a bad deal. If people are going to drink it anyway, why not be rewarded?

For all of those music lovers out there, you know how expensive buying sheet music can be. At the Mutopia Project they have free, printable versions of thousands of classical and contemporary pieces. This is legal because the editions are ones that are classified as public domain works.

Walmart offers about 8-10 different free samples every week. All you have to do is select which ones you want, enter name and address. No shipping fees, and samples generally arrive within 4 weeks. I've received everything from shampoo samples, feminine hygiene samples, coffe, trash bags, to pull-ups. You may only get three tampax in one sample, but that's still three that you didn't have to buy. Plus you get to try out some stuff that you may have never purchased before. Also look on the Walmart page for the free music download of the week.

Sign up at for a free 6 free issues of the American Baby magazine! I never failed to have the magazine address certain things that were coming up, like preventing babies from getting overwhelmed during a family Christmas party, or potty training tips. Additionally, while you're signing up, there are several newsletters that can get sent straight to your email address that are customizable to your child's developmental stage. Also check out their free offers page.

Many people are hesitant about trying the online survey gig, but I found one that really works. Lightspeed Panel doesn't pay you in cash, but surveys are rewarded with points which can be redeemed for everything from DVD's to gift certificates. I've been a member less than a year and didn't put much time into it at first, but I've earned enough to trade in on $30 worth of PayPal certificates (which went to buy new rechargable batteries for the camera so I can take the pictures that I need the Coke reward points to prints...)

Listing of free Wifi spots.

Free Sterling Silver Jewelry. You do have to pay shipping on the items, but it's only $6.99. I bought a lovely pendant with two london blue topaz set in it that I wear constantly. All jewelery comes stamped with ".925," the symbol of sterling silver. I consider the deal a bargain! great birthday ideas, presents, Christmas, etc. Thanks to Women's Day for this wonderful website!


Protonic. In their own words, "Got a headache with your computer and no budget to fix it ..... protonic.com is here to help. We are a free service manned by volunteers all over the planet, helping people fix technology problems. We enjoy the challenge of solving your problem, we are up to date and work as a team. Our standards are assured by Quality Assurance sampling .... we do our best to put the smile back on your face."

PC world rated this on their list of 101 fantastic freebies in May 2007. It's an spam filter for your e-mail program. Unfortunately, from what I read, it won't work with my hotmail account...

Well, that's probably enough for tonight. Enjoy the offerings here. I'll post more freebies as I find them. I would love to hear what you all have discovered out there!

Toddler speak

Before I had children, I was a little nervous about having a toddler as I've never been very good at interpreting "toddler speak." However, with a little practice and paying attention to my sons, I've learned to understand much more. It is, however, a little confusing when Ryan (3)substitutes a "w" for both the "l" and the "r". Poor little guy was getting a little frustrated last night when I thought he was referring to the light and he was trying to tell me I was right. Maybe I should've gotten that on a recording as I probably won't hear that too many times in the upcoming years. It's so much fun to hear him learning to actually use full sentences and expressing concepts.

On the other end, sometimes it's mildly sad when they actually learn to speak correctly. William (16 months) has been saying "Duck do" for months as "thank you." He is a very grateful little boy and enjoys telling people thank you. I would sit there and tell him "you're welcome" just to hear him say "duck do." In the last couple of days he's been pronouncing things much more correctly and the words actually sound closer to the real thing than his toddler speak. I'm a bit nostalgic but still happy that my kiddo is growing up.

Babies don't keep

This is a poem that my mom relayed to me when my oldest was a newborn. It really helped me get over the "I have to be supermom" mentality. I am a mother to two high-energy boys, a wife, a full-time student (healthcare--not easy stuff), and a commuter. It took a while, but I finnally realized it was ok to quit worrying about having a perfect house and do what I can physically do, and that's a tremendous job. My kids will not remember (or care) if they had meals served on a plate that I washed a mere 30 seconds before I put the food on it, but they will remember the times that I spent reading to them, rocking them, and playing in the yard with them. As I now jokingly tell my husband, I AM Supermom, but even she has her kryptonite!

BABIES DON'T KEEP
Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......
~Author Unknown ~

Snow Wish

The flurries were falling when I opened the blinds this morning. Out of the entire midwest, I think I'm one of the few who was excited and hoping for several inches to accumulate. My youngest, 16 months, has never gotten to play in the snow and big brother (3) and I were excited about the possibilities. The flurries have just stopped and it's hard to tell whether my children or I are the most disappointed. I love the sight of children in their little winter hats. Sparkling eyes peeking out from underneath and little cherub cheeks grinning. Granted, getting the hats to stay on the head can be a bit of a problem, but it's a rewarding sight nevertheless. I guess it also helps make up for the slight sadness that I feel when I pack up their summertime clothes. Not only do I love little bare feet and chubby knees, it's always sad to see my favorite little cotton outfits packed away that will be too small to wear the next time the temperature goes up. So bring on the hats and the sweaters, it's winter time!