Mother's Day

With Mother's Day right around the corner I've been thinking about what to do. Before Mother's Day was hard for me. My mom always wanted me to come to her house and have a Mother's Day dinner. My in-laws wanted me to come over their for their Mother's Day dinner. But what about me? Don't I get to do something I want since I'm a mother??

I really didn't like going to any Mother's Day celebration. In fact I dreaded it. My mom would give me the guilt trip of me being their and my mother-in-law would give my husband the guilt trip of us being at her house. I really started to dread it and thought I'm a mom I should do what I want.

Luckily my mom (I love her dearly so don't think I'm being mean) has been going out of town for the past 4 Mother's Day's with her husband and his kids. He takes them to Disneyland and San Diego every year. Bless him!!! So now my dilema is solved pretty much. Some years my mother-in-law doesn't do anything so we can do whatever we want. My brother and sister-in-law usually have nothing to do because her mom lives in another state and its hard for them to travel for the weekend so they usually end of doing nothing with family so they have started their own traditions.

My sister-in-law figures she doesn't want to cook so they go to a park let the kids play, take chicken, rolls, etc that they pick up and have a picnic. Or they will bring something to BBQ like steaks, hamburgers and hotdogs. She will make brownies or cookies or something the day before for dessert. I thought it sounded so nice and simple.

Does your Mother's Day involve a big celebration with dinner, tea, brunch, or maybe a BBQ? Is is a lot of work or simple and fun?

Now that my mom isn't around and the holiday isn't as hectic for us we plan a different day to do Mother's Day with her and combine her birthday with it since its in May also.

This year I've been on a theme kick for birthdays and once a month we have a dinner at her house. February we had Italian, March was green and food with vinegar(my mom's idea) April was breakfasts and Danish (my son wanted Danish pastries).

I thought for May it would be fun to do a tea party with my mom and her grandkids (boys included). Have finger foods, crafts-like decorating a crazy hat to wear to the tea party, and maybe dressing up.

Here's some recipes for scones for the tea party:
Joy of baking


The Sunday Baker has a great blueberry scone recipe with detailed pictures of how to make them.

Now I'm off to find some finger foods and decorations....

Mother's Day Give Away

Head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom. They are having a BIG GIVE AWAY for Mother's Day. Click on the button and go enter for lot of fun prizes!!

Routines

So do you have a morning routine? I use too, still do to some degree. Tuesdays and Thursdays I love because all the boys are in school. Before I had the baby I would clean, have some "me" time, usually spent on the computer. Now I clean up breakfast and spend a little time on the computer. It seems my routines have slipped lately.

I can't do the same thing every day because the baby is not quite in a routine herself yet. She is pretty good but she has a cold so she just went down for a nap which would have been earlier but she slept longer this morning and didn't get up until after 9. (I'm not complaining at all)

I think this is apart of having "the blahs" or "the funk". I just can't seem to get my routine down. I know having a baby is hard and I'm just grateful to have her. (It took us quite some time to get pregnant and we thought we weren't having any more but that is a story for another day.)

But I feel so overwhelmed from being behind in my cleaning routine. My laundry has stacked up. I can get it done but sometimes not folded or put away before the kids get home.

My kids aren't doing their routines as well as I would like them to either. They would make their beds when they got home, clean up toys at night or when done playing, vaccuum or dust depending on age. I use to read to them every night, now with the baby some nights I can't. I've had my 17 year old read to them or my husband if he's not working. Some nights they go without. It makes me sad.

I feel unorganized. I still need to put my maternity clothes away and bring up my spring/summer clothes from the basement.

I know this time will pass and I will get caught up on my laundry and my house won't look like a bomb hit it and the kids will be read to every night. But for now I'm just taking it by baby steps. Getting the baby into more of a routine. Crash cleaning if needed. I have my 4 year old dusting now and its great, everything on the four year old eye level.

Now I just need to get my 17 year old to do more. He use to help a lot more but he is taking drivers ed, so that takes up lots more time and he wants to spend more time with friends. I don't know why!! Just kidding I loved spending time with friends and I was in drill team. I don't even remember my chores as a teenager. I remember when I was little I mopped the kitchen floor once a week and cleaned the bathroom on Saturdays and my room. And had kitchen duty on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Maybe thats my problem. I should have my 17 year old do dish duty a couple times a week. Right now he sweeps every day for me and empty's the dishwasher usually every other day. My 4 year old has learned how to empty the dishwasher so I guess my 6 year old can too.

I think I need another incentive for my kids chore charts. They love to do them and get the stickers but they get bored after a while. I'm going searching for some ideas, if you have some please share with me.

And if you made it this far thanks for staying with me on my long rambling post. I think sometimes I just write this stuff for my own benefit. This is my "adult talking time" since I'm around my kids all day.

The Blahs

I was blog hopping this morning and I visited TuTu's Bliss. She made me feel a lot better. This past week and probably longer week to 2 weeks I have just been in a blah mood. Not really feeling well. It had been raining off and on and cold, then I had a sore throat for a week and then got a stuffy, runny nose that I thought turned into a sinus infection. I went to the doctor they said I had fluid in my ears, blah, blah, blah sinus infection here's your antibiotic. Well, the next day (I didn't want to wait in line to fill my prescription so I went home) I felt tons better. No antibiotics taken or anything just a waste of my $$ for the doctor.

Well it turns out there is others out there feeling about the same way. I haven't really got anything accomplished. I feel so far behind on my housework that its so overwhelming that I don't even want to try to get caught up. I just do the basics, a load of laundry here, dishes there. So at least we have clean clothes and dishes to eat off of and cook with. Blog hopping got me through the week.

Well that was last week. Today I feel better, the sun is shining again, even though it's still cold out. I feel like "the funk" as TuTu's Bliss calls it or the Blahs is gone. I feel I can get out and start cleaning start catching up even though I'm still lacking sleep with the baby I just feel better.

My trees are starting to blossom it just feels better!!

Kid Friendly Meal

I have mentioned before that I have picky eaters. All of my boys are picky. They don't like veggies and only some fruits. And they are just picky all the way around with other foods. When it comes to trying new foods its like pulling teeth.

My sister-in-law gave me a recipe for calzones. This way the kids can help make their own and add whatever they want in them.
You take Rhodes rolls or whatever kind of frozen rolls or bread you want. I use 2 for the kids, 3 for me and 4 for my husband and teenager. Or 3 for them then they can have more than one. Defrost the dough. I do 30 seconds on one side, turn over then 25 seconds on the other. Smash them together then have the kids roll them out.

Next add spaghetti sauce. Just spoon on however much you like. My youngest doesn't like sauce so this is perfect for him. Then add whatever you like. Pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, pineapple, cheese, any veggies you like.
Next fold them over and pinch the edges together. Put on a greased cookie sheet. Or spray with Pam.



Bake in the oven on 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

We had these for dinner for my son's birthday. He loves pizza but I thought we would try something different. He also like pizza pockets but I don't like the cost or the added stuff to them. These freeze very well and reheat up really well also.

Pirates

My canon balls are ready to fire!! I'm on the lookout for Mom at Life...Exaggerated I'm defending my blog from being pirated. I think it already has been though... check out the comments in my last post. Keep your blog from being pirated matey!! Get your canon balls and swords ready.



(That just reminded me I think pirate day at pre-school is coming up. I need to find a pirate costume. Wow!! I'm so glad Mom stopped by or I would have completely forgotten. Thanks)

Rain

It is raining like crazy here. At least it isn't cold. I love the spring rain, when its warmer. I couldn't find my sons rain jacket so I drove him to the bus stop. The other kids were soaked. I can't believe how hard its raining.

Upside: Green grass and lots of pretty flowers coming my way.

Downside: Dark, cold and wet

Luckily we got our peas planted on Saturday. I know we are a bit late but at least they are planted and now we are getting some rain. I guess there are more positives to rain than I thought.

Now that I'm done rambling on pretty much about nothing I think I'll do some blog hopping.

Slacking Spring Break

Ok, so I've really been slacking on my blog lately. It's been Spring break here so my kids are home from school. They go back to school tomorrow, Tuesday. It will be nice. I'll finally be able to get the house back in order and get back into a routine.

I was going to post on Friday but I was sick. My mom took my oldest son shopping for his birthday and I had to take him to meet her. I ended up shopping with them and having lunch. It was fun but I had the worst sinus headache and then Saturday it was even worse when I got up. I went to the doctor and they said I had a sinus infection. I think it was a combo of allergies and an infection. The hard part is I can't take a lot since I'm still breastfeeding the baby.

The good news is I'm feeling 80% better. I'd probably be feeling better if I had more sleep but that will come with time.

I got a couple of cute ideas from craft day with my aunts and cousins. I'll be posting them tomorrow. Can't wait for some free time. I love my kids but I like my routine on Tuesdays and Thursdays since I only have the baby home in the mornings, I actually get a "little me time".

Organize and crash cleaning

I've noticed with the baby I can't do as much "crash cleaning" as I like to call it. It's always worked for me when company is coming. Now it's hard for me to get things done. The baby is still a little collicky and I think she now likes to be held a lot. Can't complain because I'm just so happy to have her. (That's another story for another day...)



I am having a Craft Day with my family on my dad's side. We don't get to see each other very much and it's fun to get together have lunch and make things. My cousin is the "bomb" at making hair bows. They are the cutest bows. Now that I have a little girl I could go "hairbow crazy" along with all the other girl accessories. So we are making bows, tutu's, baby leggings, and whatever else anyone wants to make.

With me having the baby we are having it at my house this time. My house is in ok order but its still needs some deep cleaning and organizing. I haven't figured out what to do with my kids school work. They feel bad when I throw it away but I can't keep all of it. And toys, I have toys everywhere. I need to go through them and give some away. I need some system put in order for my boys to put there toys away. I have bins, totes, and plastic drawer bins. I've had them all organized so they know where things go but they just don't get put back away.

So I'm off to search some great organizing blogs. If you have any you like let me know. In the meantime I'm doing a "mini crash clean" and hope no one cares that my house isn't spotless.

I'll be posting pictures of our Craft day on Friday.

BiRtHdAy WiShEs!!

Today is my son's 17th birthday. I'm not sure what to do for him. I think he is getting to old for balloons? My younger boys love them. I told him I would cook him his favorite dinner which is Italian minimeatloaves and italian mac & cheese. I got the recipe from Rachel Ray.

We are celebrating his birthday with my 5 almost 6 year olds birthday on the 19th with family. Last year we made a sign since he was turning 16 and put it up on the house over the garage with some balloons that said Happy Birthday so when he got home he would see it. I just don't have any ideas this year. Maybe its the lack of sleep with the new baby or I don't know.

Do you have any ideas???

Adorable shoes

Check out Frugal Mommy of 2. The button is on my sidebar. She is having a great GiVeAwAy for some Vincent shoes. They are so adorable. So go check them out and enter the contest.

Menu Planning

Menu Planning for the week

Monday- Tacos & Nachos

Tuesday- Italian Mini meatloaves & Italian Mac & Cheese
(Son's birthday request)

Wednesday- Pork Chops, rice & asparagus

Thursday- Clam Chowder & homemade french bread

Friday- Homemade Calzones

Saturday- Leftover Buffet

Sunday- Easter Dinner at relatives, bring dessert

I thought if I type out my dinner plans for the week it would help. Plus it helped to enter me in a contest. Check out Menu planning Monday over at orgjunkie.com

Check out a Hair bow GiVeAwAy

Go check out this cool GiVeAwAy! It's at Babes in Hairland. She has 2 Give Aways for hair bows and accessories. Just what my Paytie bug needs!!

Nothing

I'm slacking big time this week of updating my blog. The baby has been sick with a runny nose, croupy cough and fever and now I think I'm coming down with something. I think Spring came for a tease a while back and now we are back to cold winds, snow and rain.

I was going to post a recipe but I only have one hand to type with because I'm holding the baby so today will be a post about nothing. I think there was a tv show about nothing wasn't there? To bad I can't make that kind of money blogging about nothing.


Tomorrow I've got a great Friday Find to post about.