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Stay at home mom with dreams of perfecting all things mama.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Brownie results...

OK, here you go!--Healthy spinach, brownies were a success...

In case you missed it here is the healthy brownie recipe we made and enjoyed yesterday: Healthy brownies
The recipe says it is vegan, but our version was not, simply because we used milk chocolate chips and vanilla chips. Oh and we didn't have organic raw sugar, so that was different too.

Either way the brownies were tasty...just a little gooey in the middle. Guess what though? Kids don't care if brownies are gooey! (and neither do I) We loved them and there was no spinach taste whatsoever! 2 cups of spinach placed into this brownie mix and you couldn't taste it AT ALL!

Take Ten to try a new healthy variation of a favorite dessert at your house!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Get better...

Imagine your little one coming into your bedroom at 5:30 am, breathing short rapid breaths and crying as he says to you "Mom, will you help me!" Talk about an aching mommy heart!


If you do not know what is pictured above consider yourself blessed! Every couple of months we pull this machine out of our pantry to give our son breathing treatments. It used to be every month, but recently the need for it has slowed down. Praise God!

Yesterday I had to give Easton treatments every hour to hour and a half, all day. Poor kid! It is a trying experience for both son and mommy.

The doctors say it is because of something called bronchialitis. That means when my boy gets stuffed up from  either a cold or allergies his little bronchial tubes swell and become very small, making it difficult to breathe. (Really scary for both me and him.) The nebulizer sprays out breathing meds (albuterol) in a fine mist for him to breathe so his little bronchial tubes can open up and allow him to take in more air.

So what does this have to do with taking ten? Easton is feeling better today! Because he is better we are going to make a healthy brownie recipe to celebrate! Link below.
healthy brownie recipe
We will be back later with pics and reviews of the treat!

Take Ten!

Friday, July 27, 2012

end your day right...

We ended our day with the library today because kids of all ages like it! End your day with a take ten trip to your library! We go pretty often to check out free books and movies! Take Ten!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

sing, sing a song!

This morning Easton and I heard Melanie coming down the stairs after waking up, so I started singing a little song to greet her. The second time around Easton joined in the singing and the third time I recorded it. It's just a short little good morning song, but the kids loved it.


Try it! Take ten to make up a little tune with your kids. My dad used to do this with my sister and me. It was always fun and made us feel special!

Take Ten!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Take ten for mommy...

Let's just admit it and get it out there. It's hard to be a mom. It doesn't matter who you are or where you live we all face trials in the joys of motherhood. I found this article this morning and it really hit home for me. I thought other moms might like to to take ten and read it today. It might just change your mood! Click the link below!
Great reminders here

TAKE TEN!
 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Pandora's box...

Toddler tunes on Pandora.com is pretty great. My kids love the music. It has cool songs on it that instruct your kids to do different dance movements (jump, stomp) like the one featured in the video below:


Kids love it, well my kids do, and it brings me back to fun, musical memories of preschool.

If you've never tried Pandora, do it! Take ten to dance with your kids and get some exercise!

Don't mind the little squabble that happens at the end of the video...Melanie gets mad at Easton for laying his head on top of her! haha siblings...

Take Ten

Monday, July 23, 2012

Take Ten to DIY...

I'm already planning Skyelynn's first birthday party. The theme is zebra stripes and I'll be accenting with bright colors. The kids and I went to the store to pick out some zebra party stuff when I saw these:

It's a tissue paper ball decoration. I put a couple in my cart and then decided to put them back. I have tissue paper, I have time, and I have kids that like projects. Right then and there I decided to make these myself. Guess what? They're really easy. 

Step one: Get some tissue paper. Lucky for us I save tissue paper from birthday parties. My husband doesn't understand why I do it, but why throw away something that can be reused? 


Step two: Look up instructions for making said decorations.


Step three: Follow directions. I found the instructions on a Martha Stewart website. 


Step four: Enjoy your new decoration. 

So, this didn't turn out as perfect as Martha Stewart's but I expected that. I'm not a perfectionist but it did turn out cute, right?

Step five: Teach your kids how to make them.






DIY project was successful!

Take Ten!

Friday, July 20, 2012

impromptu...

Sometimes being impulsive pays off. Take yesterday, for example. The kids and I went to the store to pick up some things for Skyelynn's first birthday party and on our way home the kids asked to go to the park. It was noon, past time for lunch and a nap, so I told them no. I quickly changed my mind when we passed a new park I wanted to check out. I turned in the parking lot and heard delighted squeals from the backseat.

I'm so glad we did. This park was 10 month old baby girl friendly. Look at all the new things she got to try!


Simply beautiful.



This makes me laugh-best shot I could get of all of them together!

Take Ten to be impulsive!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

take ten for a science lesson...

In the car today my daughter randomly asked "what does water turn into?" So we went into a little science lesson. I explained that water can be three things depending on how warm or cold it is. Liquid, ice and steam. It was simple enough for her and Easton to understand and they learned something new! Take Ten!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

reflection...

Take ten to reflect. Think about the kind of parent you are and the kind you wish to be. It may seem from reading this blog that I spend my days patiently teaching my kids new things, reinforcing the ideas already learned and doing cool projects.

I took all three kids shopping at the mall. This is the start of the trip when we were all happy.  I didn't take a picture of the middle and end. It wouldn't be pretty.

This is so not the reality of life in our household. The majority of our days are spent diffusing sibling fights, battling tantrums, fixing meals and snacks, taking potty breaks and fighting the urge to throw my own tantrum! :)

Look! A rare moment when no one is throwing a fit or fighting! Hurry snap a pic!


Needless to say I do a lot of praying that the Lord will give me patience. The mom I am falls way short to the mom I desire to be. But that's ok. God only gives us as much as we can handle and children are a blessing. Right? Right!

You can usually find happy kids around Grandpa.


It's always a good plan to reflect on where we are and where we want to be so we can stick to the path of getting there. So take ten to reflect and then feel refreshed about where you are!

Take Ten!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

unplug

Take ten to unplug. No tv! See what your kids choose to do. I notice that when the tv is off my kids immediately find something to do. If it's on they gravitate with wide and glassy eyes to stare at the big rectangle on the wall. Even if it is my show that is on they will not play they will instead lay around the tv room and beg for their own show to be put on the screen. With all the noise from their begging it is impossible to hear or watch my show anyway, so what's the point? We like to unplug instead! (Well, I like to unplug)
Here are two of them playing different things in the toy room. Using their imaginations and pretending! Great exercise for their minds! :)
Take Ten!

Monday, July 16, 2012

littlest ones...

Today we took ten at the library where Skyelynn took a step and chose a book! Yay for first steps and learning about reading.
While Skyelynn was busy walking ànd choosing books Mel and East made a friend at the kid computer. Take Ten (at the library..shhh)

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Make mornings happier!

Take ten to make your kids' morning a little brighter. I don't know why I have not done this before because we eat pancakes at least 2-3 times a week. Today I made Mickey and Minnie Mouse for Easton and Melanie. They loved it! I'm not sure what they liked better, the way the pancakes were shaped or the fact that the faces were made out of chocolate chips! I think the chocolate chips won.

Here's what you do:


I'm not great at making them look perfect...look at Mickey's poor misshapen ear...nevertheless the kids did not mind!
By the way these pancakes are wheat and gluten free. Courtesy of Pamela's Amazing Gluten Free baking mix. Yummy stuff!

Take Ten!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Simple life...


Today we're going on a picnic with this basket and this quilt. This is the quilt my husband made with his mom when he was younger. This will be the first time the kids have seen the quilt and I'm excited to tell them their daddy made it. It's a great take ten moment, telling your kids something about one of their parents' childhoods. Kids like that kind of stuff.

Either way, we were invited by some friends to go on a picnic later today, which works out to be perfect timing because my kids were pretending to have a picnic with their play food the other day in their toy room. Today we take imagination to reality!

Pictures later!

Take Ten!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

mini teachers...

Sometimes I feel bad for my youngest child. She doesn't get to go over the ABC's and the letter sounds every night in the tub like my other two did at her age. At this stage in life I throw all 3 kids in the tub, scrub them down and get them out! It's much more efficient that way.

To make up for it, I recruited some mini teachers. These little teachers know the alphabet and letter sounds and are perfect at teaching their little sister. And little sister happens to love her teachers!

Try it! Give the older kids a "job". Make them feel big and important. The little ones will learn and the older ones will get practice with what they already know.

I was cooking dinner when I had Melanie do the alphabet with Skyelynn. It kept 2 of the 3 kids busy!
I took ten to video the cuteness!
Take Ten!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Take the extra minute or so...


Sound familiar? This is a phrase I hear often from Melanie and Easton. If Skyelynn could talk I'm sure she'd be saying it too.

My philosophy? Let them! Yes it takes extra time. Yes it can be frustrating. Yes it takes patience. But your kids will love you for giving them these opportunities to be big.
Here is what you do:

1.) Plan extra time before outings when you know your kids are going to want to do something all by themselves! For example: dress themselves, buckle their own seat belts, pack a bag of toys for a car ride, use the potty without help. This extra time will alleviate frustration on your part about running late. 

2.) Have them do things themselves you know they are capable of accomplishing and then say good job and thank you!

3.) Stop babying them with the things they can do without you. This promotes work ethic and cuts down on whining. I don't know about you but I can always use less whining in my household!

4.) Read the book pictured above and any other book in that series. They are cute and funny and kids love them!

Take Ten!

Friday, July 6, 2012

splashin'

Take ten for a water fight. Trust me your kids will love you for it!!! Example of one below! Take Ten!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

nap time!

Take ten to take a nap with your kids...yes seriously! We can all use more rest and what is more cozy than cuddling with your kids? My kids are always wanting to "cozy" with me and my 3 1/2 year old daughter will only take a nap if I lay down with her until she falls asleep. I won't pretend that it bothers me to have to nap with her because it allows me a chance to rest too! With a baby that doesn't sleep through the night and a little boy who gets up at 5:30 am rest is something you take advantage of! So forget the dishes and laundry and dirty floors and...well everything else that beckons us and rest away!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A little experience...

I have decided that one of the best things about being a mother is the chance to give your children new experiences and watch them while they have fun.

Meet my 10 month old, Skyelynn.

She's a little adventurer. She is more active than my other two were at this age because she is trying to keep up with her older sibs.

The other day we were outside, and she is usually banned to sitting in the jumparoo. (I know, poor girl!) She can't walk yet,  and although she can crawl, she does not know to stay out of the street while I'm picking strawberries, so the jumparoo is where she has to be. I changed things up a bit and let her try something new, and was she ever happy!


She'll be riding around in no time!

Do something new with your kids!

Take Ten!

Monday, July 2, 2012

simple...

We are back after a small hiatus because of the craziness life throws at us. I went into this blog wanting it to be something I enjoyed doing doing not something I felt pressured to get done everyday. Therefore I have decided to only post 5 days a week. Having said that, let's get going!
Paper and stickers and kids in jammies..
Writing their names in stickers and putting their age underneath was all it took to make them happy this morning!
Melanie took the time to spell more and write everyone 's ages. The ten is for ten month old Skyelynn. :) Take Ten!