Death and That Other Thing...Well, Really Just That Other Thing

Can I let you in on a little secret? I hate doing our taxes.

I'm not sure why I hate it so much.

With Justin's position and three kids, it's not like we owe anything this April 15th. Actually we usually get a refund, especially since we have had babies in the last part of the year and we weren't getting their deductions from the taxes withheld from our checks.

I'm organized and keep all of our papers in one place. I even switched from paper to e-filing, so it's just a little time at the computer, not all the time to get the forms and make copies like I used to do.

Maybe it's all those years of filling out IEP (Individualized Education Plan) forms that gives me the hee-bee gee-bees. I was always terrified I'd make an error on those and it's the same with the tax forms.

Well, I put the taxes to bed for the year. Here's to another year until I have to fill out the dreaded forms again!

Bumbo Seat (Alternate Title: Poop Happens)

When we got all of our baby paraphernalia when Kate was born, I'd never heard of a Bumbo seat. When Gabby was new they were around, but we didn't bother getting one. This time, however, a friend lent us hers.

They allow the baby to sit up before they have to full trunk strength to do so without some help.

While Nate can sit unassisted for short periods of time,

(See)

it works great to allow him to sit awhile and watch me as I work around the kitchen.

(Too Cute!)

There is only one problem with this set up. For some reason Nate has decided this is a potty chair! I suppose it's the way that he's sitting pushing on his little tummy because he has a diaper blow out nearly every time I put him in it--three times on Sunday!!! Thankfully it's an easy to clean surface.

I promise I will disinfect it very well before I return it!

Too bad he's not ready to be potty trained, 'cause this would be a piece of cake! At least he's my only one in diapers these days--congrats to Miss Gabby for being day time potty trained!

Gabby-isms

Pointing to her tummy: "Insulin. It goes in my tummy because it's insulin."

I guess this is our new normal.

Waving the White Flag

I'm the type of gal who usually keeps it together. Life can be all kinds of crazy around me, but I just keep plugging through. The kids are screaming in the middle of the store--I just pick them up and keep right on going. Justin is diagnosed as diabetic--we read up and start counting carbs. We move when I'm seven months pregnant with Gabriella--I get a midwife and we unpack.

Today the kids caught me though. They conspired. I had coupons for Target, so I pack us all up and we head out to pick up a few things. Through much begging Kate convinces Gabby that they should ride in one of those huge monstrosities of a cart with the two seats for small children. So with the girls in the seats and Nate in his infant carrier in the basket we set off to conquer the diapers.

As I reach the back of the store, a teeny-tiny voice says, "I need ta go potty." I sigh. I thought of this as I turned out of the neighborhood, I forgot to take her before we left. I turned the gargantuan cart around and head back to the front of the store, where we unload and head to the restroom. Then all four of us pile into a stall for Gabby to do the tiniest tinkle possible. Then of course Kate had to go. We all washed our hands and returned just in time to see our cart being put away. We retrieve it and get back to the exact same spot to hear, "I need ta go potty."

You've gotta be kidding. I tell her I'll grab what I need and then I'll take her again. I quickly grab a box of diapers and then head over a couple of aisles. The "I need ta go potty!" is no longer quiet. I put the box of diapers back on the shelf and head back to the restroom again, with less patience. This time she took significantly longer to do her business. Nate was fussing, and Kate was whining that she was bored. I gave up and came home.

Where Gabby informed me one of the floss sticks was in the toilet...the unflushed toilet. The joys of motherhood!

What a Chore!

My husband and I came from different worlds as far as chores went. I did them and he didn't. Okay, not quite fair. He had to mow half the yard. I don't get that one, I volunteered to mow the yard, so maybe I'm weird any how--don't answer that.

I dusted, vaccumed, cleaned bathrooms, and shared the responsibility of cleaning up after dinner with my sister. and like I said, I voluntarily mowed fairly often.. Until my dad got a riding mower and I wasn't allowed to use it. No need for me to push mow when someone else could ride it, right? I also did some laundry and cooking, though they were not primarily my responsibility

We plan to aim for a good level of chores. But what is that? They certainly aren't going to take over the 400+ loads of laundry a year anytime soon. At the moment Nate's on easy street. His job is to eat, drool, poop, and smile that gummy grin.

But he's so good at his job!

The girls are gophers (they go for this and go for that). They also have to put their milk cups back in the fridge after meals and put away their own toys each night. As they grow older, we'll add in some more chores.

Can these children be forced to scrub pots?

We believe that the chores are important on many levels... The children help with some of the burden that they are creating as a member of the family (not that they themselves are burdens, but that it teaches them that everyone needs to do their share). Chores teach important skills--it's a good thing if our children know how to wash their clothes and boil water. They also teach children responsibility.

What kind of chores did you do? Did you/do you expect your children to do?

Hey Good Lookin', What You Got Cookin'?

The right accessories--dress up heels and an apron.

I like to cook...I love to bake. My girls are wanting to be involved with the food preparation process now. I personally can't wait until they are old enough to take a night or two of dish duty a week. That's why we have children isn't it? So that they can do chores? No?

Anyway... My mom got the girls a subscription to a periodical called High Five. This one is for younger kids, more the 2-5 set. One of the things that each issue includes is a recipe. The first one had mac & cheese cups. We didn't do it. It looked like way more effort than it was worth--including having to wash my muffin tin for mac & cheese that they could have eaten with a fork. Nah. I'm not for making more work for myself and making a not very healthy recipe even less healthy--you have to add flour to make it stick together and then bake it.

The next one, however, had a little recipe that the girls were interested in and I was willing to do. We typically have a snack of fruit every afternoon, so this was a little more work, but at least close nutritionally. It involves dipping banana chunks in a peanut butter-honey mixture and then dipping that into raisins. A little extra fat and protein and the girls had a great time. It's not something I would want them to have everyday, but it was a nice way to pass a little time this afternoon and they sure enjoyed it. Kate also got to look at the measuring cups to find the 1/3, so a tiny smidge of math too.

This peanut butter is sticky!


Yum.

They also helped me bake cookies this Sunday when we were concerned about the ice and stayed home from church. They've been enjoying their chocolaty dessert this week.

Can I eat these?


Got to love cooking with the kiddos.

Gabby-isms

What Gabby Says:..........What Gabby Means:
Zip me down....................Unzip my coat
Button me off...................Un-do my snap or button
You scribbled it...............Her blankets aren't just so on her bed and she wants them staightened.