So it's Friday morning, technically, since it's after midnight. My parents, grandfather, brother and his girlfriend will be here tomorrow at 4, and I'm sitting on the computer, blogging about what took up most of my night, when I should actually be doing something to get ready. But no. Here I sit.

I just finished making my Christmas Story Leg Lamp Cake Pops. They came out cute, but did I really need to bake them and dip into chocolate and then pick teeny weeny little pieces of chocolate sprinkles and attach them into the chocolate at the bottom of the pop as fringe? Well, yes. Yes, I did. Initially I was going to make 8 of them, but all I really *needed* was 6, so I cut 2 back. And by cutting them back, I mean I ate them. Less work for me.
Here is a picture of the pop, along with the platter which I wrapped with a brown paper bag and then wrote on... Yes, a bit clever, but also a bit psychotic. My floors need to be mopped people. Badly. I also have laundry and dusting to do. But here's a pic....

Here is another picture of it close up.

So that's what I did tonight. 6 pops, 3 hours, and what will surely take less than 1 minute to eat. Time well spent.

Now after I finished, I should have gone on to mop the floors. But no. I came across an awesome site! Look at the picture I made using a picture of my living room:

It came from catchacharacter.com Super cute, right?! So, of course I made a picture and will have it sent to the kids from "Doctor" our elf. That made me realize Doctor was still in his spot, so forget the floors...I've got to think of a new spot. I couldn't come up with anything else, so I caved and finally went the snow angel route.

Yep, here is Doctor:

So you have seen what encompassed about 5 hours of my night. Time well spent? Why yes....tomorrow when my kids come downstairs and see the treats and doctors sillines..and when they get that picture with Santa in OUR living room!? Yes, it was time really well spent. =)

Merry Christmas from the Meticulous Momma. xoxo

Have yourself a Clean Christmas

Cleaning ladies.

I used to complain when mine left the floor still tacky, or when they missed a spot dusting...or when they broke something of mine. Then the economy tanked and we had to make changes to what we needed and what we wanted to need. I could either sell my Louis Vuitton keepall and keep the maids for all of 10 months OR I could let the maids go. As one would imagine, my Louis Vuitton bag is still perched on my closet shelf for the extravagant trips that I'm hoping we'll one day NEED. 4 kids, people. I NEED one right now. So, it was an easy choice...buh-bye maids. (And yes, I'm aware the politically correct term is cleaning ladies, but this specific company name was cleverly, "The Maids").

Fast forward a bunch of months. I have tried my darndest, but this is a lot of house for me to properly maintain. With my deep cleaning skills, I should pop out another few kids, because I absolutely could be the little old lady who lived in a shoe. A shoe. Now that; that I could keep in pristine condition.

With Christmas coming next week, I decided yesterday to begin calling cleaning services to tidy up for me before our company arrived...although, in actuality to the naked eye, it's tidy...just DON'T open that closet...but it needs to be deep cleaned, you know?) Well, I guess the holidays are a busy time of year not to have a consistent service and to be fit in, so I was out of luck. Well, until I remembered the 4 kids I mentioned earlier, the ones who make 99% of the mess...they are about the age that kids in factories work... (horrible, I know but it got me thinking...)

So, with 2 pails, soap and water in one, a clean water pail with 2 sponges, and a towel- the kids and I washed EVERY wall in the house, all the cabinets in the kitchen and bar, the stairways...you name it, we scrubbed it. We listened to holiday music, and although we missed Samantha a few times (she HAD to go shake her booty to Jingle Bell Rock), we worked together fabulously and the kids loved it!

I'm going to see what I can do next. Tomorrows challenge is tackling my bedroom. It's the messiest room in the house by far. It's the one that houses ALL the laundry, which is never ending. It needs to be dusted, but I always want to get the clothes out of the room, so they don't get dust on them, and it's always where the kids leave all their dirty clothing, because they love showering in the big shower or taking a bath in the big jacuzzi style tub. The bathroom floor hasn't been steamed in a LONG time...maybe I can strap sponges to their knees and have them crawl all around.

Either way, Merry Christmas to me. It's the first time the kids have actually enjoyed doing something positive, in a cleaning aspect, for the house. This might just be the best Christmas ever.

Have a very merry and deep clean kinda Christmas!

Whine and wine

7 years ago today my world changed for the better and I became a mom. I laugh at myself now on how I was just soooo tired, even though my lovely son slept through the night after 12 weeks. I hardly had time to get my bi- weekly mani/pedi, and usually had to have the nanny that came to my house, stay a little later sometimes so I could get to the stores and do some shopping. I had a clean home and took my very calm and quiet baby EVERYWHERE...even to restaurants, where my husband and I would eat at, at least 3-4 times a week. Oh how the times have changed!

Now I truly only get 2 hours a day when I have some alone time, although if I'm not racing to the grocery store, I'm rushing home so I can change the sheets on the bed, clean the bathrooms, do the things that I can't get done when my little ones are home. Lately I, like most parents, have been racing to the toy store to get the latest Bey Blade necessity, or Princess bicycle.

Now when I'm asked what I want for Christmas, it's not David Yurman jewelry...this year it's a new electronic toothbrush and the annual dust buster purchase. This year, however, I'm upping the anty and asking for a Dyson dust buster. I need heavy duty hitters over here in this mess of a hizzo. No more playing around!! I'd like to also come out of the dinosaur age with my phone thats only capability is to take grainy pictures, videos and text. I'd love the Smartphone, but that might have to wait after Santa finishes shopping for the 4 little elves in the house.

Speaking of elves. Damn Doctor. He is our elf on the shelf. And he apparently is a lazy little elf. I've upped the anty and started doing crazier things, but since he has been out since before Thanksgiving (Santa NEEDED to know what was going on in this house), they are kind of losing interest...which is a great thing since I'm kinda losing interest on being the super fun mom who does cool elf things for the kids. Especially since they don't even know it's me, right? I've gotta stop somewhere and if I'm not getting credit, it's Doctor that's the dull one!

Anyway, I love this time of year...I really do. Alex's birthday and the Christmas season. Lots of parties and lots to do. I am trying to remember to enjoy it more, and do a little less, but that's hard to do sometimes. So I'll just whine a bit on my blog and wine a bit more at my house. But now that I've done that tonight, here is something fun and easy (and not sugary!) which went over well tonight. There is a blog called Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons

It's awesome and I made the Candy Cane fruit dish...although not as nicely as hers. Here is my picture using raspberries and bananas. Enjoy!!!

Raising little gents and ladies

This morning my heart filled with pride when my 5 year old was going to help his 4 year old sister decorate her tree down in the basement playroom. He said, "Ladies first" as he ushered her down the stairs. I was beaming. Then he shut off the lights, slammed the door and yelled, "SUCKER". And there went my moment.

Aaah, the life of a stay at home mom trying to raise 4 little people to be upstanding citizens. It doesn't help that earlier in the morning, while my husband lovingly played with some of Alex's new birthday gifts with the boys, my 40 year old child won a Bey Blade battle and actually said, "Woo hoo...I won...you guys are the loooohooohooosers". Really? He went on to say he got caught up in the moment, so he is now in time out, which is actually taking Alaina and Alex to Kmart, in search of extra lights for the bushes outside. That, in itself, is punishment for a crime much worse than the aforementioned one, but I need to make sure this type of game playing does not repeat itself.

As for my little ladies, they are very civilized when they are not "shaking their booty" and lifting up their shirts like Toddlers gone wild. I'm not quite sure where they get their dance moves...I only wish I had them at the clubs 10 years ago, instead of my usual cabbage patch.

I can only hope and pray that we teach them to be kind, patient, loving, empathetic people who know how very lucky they are and who give back to those who are not as fortunate.

If I wrote a Christmas list to Santa, I would wish for this for everyone.
Then I would send him 8 tiny reindeer cupcakes for his time. Check these adorable treats out.

Found this on Tablespoon.com and just thought it was too cute not to make! Cupcakes of your choice, Chocolate icing. Then use pretzels for ears, Nilla wafers for the face, and white m&m's for the eyes with a bit of black gel. Then you can use cadbury chocolate balls, or anything round and tasty!

Christmas Carbs

13.
13 is the number of cookies I have eaten this afternoon to a) try to get rid of my migraine headache and b) attempt to keep me from going insane from myd 4 insanely wild, whining little monster people.
So far, it has helped the headache a little; mainly because my stomach is now hurting more than my head.
The kids have been banned to the basement, which is quite large for 4 little ones to have all to themselves, however they are literally playing on the stairs and crying and fighting right there. If you've never been to my house, you wouldn't know that it's a glass door, so it's like they are sitting on my lap giving me, my headache and my sugar ladened stomach, the finger. I would yell at them, but if I'm getting up, I will most likely head straight to the kitchen for another cookie and probably a shot of whipped cream. Not the vodka. The straight up creamy deliciousness that puts me in a better place for those 3 seconds of yum.

Today could, quite possibly, be a 4500 calorie day.

I'm not sure what it is...could it be the craziness of our recent trip to Disney, that hasn't worn off? Or could it be the upcoming 7th birthday of my firt born? Or the impending holiday celebrations that have them so excited? Not sure about the last one, as "Doctor the Elf" has been flying back to the North Pole every night with reports to Santa and my kids could care less. They are eager to find him in the morning, but as for attitude changes? Poor little elf is getting the finger too.

So, as of right this minute, I'm thinking that my kids are going to be getting coal this year. And not the messy, get black all over the place kind, but the chocolate covered coals, so that after they actually open all their presents that will most likely still be under the tree, I can stop with the cookies (written with a grin since at the rate I'm going, there won't be any left this evening) and make the switch over to chocolate.

Gotta love Christmas Carbs this time of year. Deckin my halls with it, that's for sure!!!
**Will post a picture of my latest carb fantasy....the Christmas Story Leg Lamp Cake Pop!!!-- Stay Tuned!**

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

Oh, the days when the timechange was a fantastic thing. It either meant an extra hour at the bar, or an extra hour to sleep in.
Now, it means you are woken up to the sounds of giddy children laughing, wait, scratch that, crying and fighting, at the dark hour of 5am. By 7am I am out of crafts and almost out of my mind. Is it 5 o'clock yet??

To top it off, this particular day, all 4 kids are home for the day due to teacher conferences....aaaand it is Day 7 of my diet. I am not a happy camper.

Being that we're heading to Disney in a mere 2 weeks, and I have 10 lbs to lose, I attempt to try a Jillian Michaels video. Attempt was the key word. If only I could burn calories based on attempts. My kids all tried to workout with me, which is fine, but arm circles in the warmup stage took out Samantha. Sobbing and crying because her sister scratched her, she went running away. Then the side kicks took out Will after Alex kicked him in the ribs. Alaina got winded on the 180 jumps and Alex would only kick one way, which normally hit into me now, so, instead of the 40 minute workout I had hoped I would get, I said "buh-bye" to Jillian after 15...tops.

Now the kids have been banned to the basement, although they each come up about every 5 minutes to tell on someone. Shortly, we will have to get dressed as I have to lug them to parent/teacher conferences at 1:20. Mind you, I should be in the shower, but I'm enjoying the next 4 minutes of "semi silence" until the next one tattles. I'll try to jump in there when they come up in about 10 minutes asking for a snack.

Now I look around the house. While it has the potential to look beautiful, most days, it looks like a bomb went off. It shocks me. It's clean at night, by the time the pop tarts are finished at 6:45, it's like a war zone. Fuggedaboudit. I guess I can't put ALL the blame on the kids. I definitely have all the teachers Christmas gift bags out, and stuff I've been making for Alex's upcoming birthday. I need a "shit" room. That would be perfect. Hmmm...wonder where I can make one of those. Dave would say it's his office, since I pile crap in there all the time, but I need a shit room of my own. Aaah, to dream.

So, as I sip down my Atkins shake and prepare for my mouth to shortly taste like I've eaten a poop sandwich (High protein diet mouth...ICK), I've decided tonight will be a cheat night because it will be well deserved.
My cousin and I went (pre-diet) to a restaurant in NY with awesome pumpkin martinis. Now, I'm not a pumpkin lover, per say, BUT, these were pretty darn delish. My cousin recreated the recipe and I'll be trying it tonight. If anyone cares to join me, I'll probably be clinking my glass this evening.

Here is the recipe for you to enjoy!
Take a can of pumpkin and mix it with pumpkin pie spice and some confectionary sugar. Then take equal parts vanilla vodka and baileys (you can use pumpkin bailys, which is made by Molly's) and put a spoonful or more of the pumpkin mixture with ice and shake it all up and enjoy!

Hope you enjoy it...gotta go. The crew is back upstairs and whining that they are soooo thirsty for chocolate milk. Samantha even added that she dreamed about it last night. Off to the kitchen....tempted to start now because as we all know...it's 5 o'clock somewhere!

Oh Poop!

Oh the joys that come with the aftermath of Halloween. Sugar highs are one thing, but sugar crashes are another. My kids got to pig out on Halloween, and not by my choice, but by the sneakiness gene that each one of my children seem to posess. Alaina walks out of the bathroom, after her post trick or treating bath, with a face full of chocolate. Mind you, I'm on day 2 of my Atkins diet, so I wanted to lick her face clean, but instead, I wipe it with a wipe and then practically snort it up my nose.

Nov. 1st was also bad...a big day of whining and attempts at sneaking more candy. Finally, the kids each picked 10 pieces and then put it in a box for Uncle Michael, who is in Afghanistan right now. Dave, however, picked about 52 pieces of my favorite chocolates and has been sitting, night after night, eating them next to me. Take tonight, for example. The guy is almost begging me to eat a chocolate covered cranberry as it's "Only probably 5 calories". Ummm...OK. And because he's consuming half the bag, I can count on eating just one and not wanting another? GRRRR. What a supportive husband I have while on my diet. But, as a friend pointed out, the bigger he gets, the smaller I will look. If only I was going to be sitting next to him on the cruise. Instead, most likely, I'll be sitting next to my super skinny girlfriend who ALSO has 4 kids, one which was born a mere 6 months ago. Faaaabulous.

I digress. So, here we are on day 3 of the sugar crash. My kids are SUPER whiny today, and I had a new friend to my boutique come over tonight to buy a few early Christmas presents. Since my kids go completely nuts as soon as a "new person" rings the doorbell, I took advantage of the nice day and told them to jump on the trampoline. The woman and I chatted and I showed her some new pieces...everything was going smoothly -aka- quietly, UNTIL..... I have my 4 adorable children, shoe-less from the trampoline, run into my house looking as if they had snuck more chocolate from the Halloween baskets. HOWEVER, along with their brown stained faces and hands and clothing...they are yelling, "Will wiped poop on my face". All of them. In unison. Faaaantastic. Wait, what?! We don't have a dog, and I've never seen one roaming free in my backyard. Random animals? I've seen a skunk once...could it be skunk poop? Good God. I quickly say goodbye to the poor gal who, although having three kids of her own, was probably traumatized by my filthy little poop faced children. Of course as I examine more closely after the door is shut and she pulls out of the driveway, it is actually mud. MUD! Why the hell couldn't they have said mud?! Why, when a new person is in the house, must they say it's poop?! Add this to the fact that I haven't had sugar OR alcohol in 3 days (and yes, I realize 3 days to go without alcohol is not a long time, HOWEVER, knowing I can't have it and having a couple of crazy days, not to mention the fun time of the month....); let's just say it almost put me over the edge. I call my friend Jody to tell my tale as my kids are all in showers throughout the house and she laughs away my horror.

I facebook message the poor gal and tell her, of course it was mud on their faces, not the aforementioned poop and while she was very gracious, I have decided from now on when people come over, the kids are in the basement....with Halloween candy...so that when they come up saying there is poop on their face and my customers leave in horror, at least I can lick their faces clean and get a bit of satisfaction out of it all!

Stay at home mom

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

We had our second child last year. When we did, my wife decided that she wanted to quit her job as a nurse to stay home with our kids. She could not imagine paying a stranger to stay home with our kids while she worked, only to give half of her salary to the daycare center. Our hope is that our kids will be better developed socially and mentally because they will have spent their first few years at home with their mother. We decided to get a security system since my wife would be at home alone pretty frequently with the kids. My wife said she would feel safer if we got one, and I agreed it was necessary. We looked into TOTAL ALARM SYSTEMS and found what we were looking for. I know that our neighborhood is safe, but I feel that you can never predict when criminal action will take place in any neighborhood. Now I can feel better about leaving her home with the kids each day, knowing that she will also feel safe.

Less is More

One would think that I am nesting as I'm going through my entire house and purging a ton of the "extras". But, I'm actually on a selling high. There is this great page on Facebook for people who live or work full time in my county. You can sell/buy/trade your old things and it works like a charm! I am de-cluttering and selling things my kids NEEDED to have, yet haven't played with after the first 5 minutes of opening up.
One may get carried away and start taking pictures of everything, including their everyday dinnerware, but thankfully not everything sells right away, because what would these people eat on after it got sold? Good thing, I, errr, this person stocked up on paper plates to tide them over until new items could be bought.
So, maybe this site isn't going to make some people a ton of money. Out with the old, in with the new, right??

It also may not be great for an impulse buyer like myself. I just purchased a brand new Electronic Battleship for $12. I used to love that game...I'm sure my kids will too...in 2 years or so, as it's ages 8+. I'll just store it...too good of a deal to pass up. Unless I google it and it shows that it sells for $15 at Toys R Us. Wait...let me google it right now.
SCORE!!! This game sells for $44 on Amazon. See? I just HAD to have it.
I will probably sell it Jan. 1st after we open it and the little pieces are all over the place....but better spend $12 than $44 and do that, right?

I love to justify.

Anyway, check out your facebook page to see if anyone in your county has a "for sale/free/trade in _____ County" I highly recommend!!!

Happy Shopping!

5 going on 15

I can no longer enjoy the shocked reactions of people who ask the age of my kids and flinch when I tell them that, no, they aren't triplets...my three 4 year olds are just 10 months apart. Now, the fun of saying I've got two 4 year olds, a 5 and a 6 year old has started, although it's not as impressive as they get older.

So last week, my big boy Will turned 5 years old. When asked what he wanted for his birthday, he repeated what Santa had "forgotten" last Christmas; a mini fridge for his room. #2 was a go kart and #3 was "cold hard cash, mom".
What happened to the days of lincoln logs and legos?

After being asked what he would do should he get a mini fridge (which he wasn't going to be getting...from us anyway!), he informed my husband that he needed juice boxes, bacon, ham and pickles, and that we were welcome for lunch anytime. Hmmm...thanks. If only I was pregnant again, I'd hit that lunch spot everyday!

Anyway, Will's aunt Carla bought him a mini travel fridge...super cute and small, and perfect to hold a couple of mini bottles of water. Will is content and now we have a travel fridge for our upcoming car trip to Disney.

The other night Will was talking to Dave about how he needed to make his room a dorm, until that is, he moves to California to be neighbors with my brother, his Uncle George. Although Will promises to come home every day from LA, he wants to go hang out and drink some beers with Uncle George. Faaaantastic. I blame this all on Dave...it would totally be my fault if he said he wanted to throw back some glasses of wine, or skinny girl margaritas, but not beer. Mother of the Year award still within grasp.

Anyway, this is my 5 year old. His Christmas list has already been started...on it: table and chairs and some plates for his dorm. I shudder to think of what he wants next year....beer keg anyone?

But for now, all I can do is be thankful that he still tells us his plans, invites us for lunch at his "place" and is an all-around good,albeit wild, kid. My Will...5 going on 15.

In honor of my little party boy, I've attached a recipe for Beer Bread...really yummy and you can change the taste with the type of beer...especially for the fall, pumpkin ale. YUM. Enjoy!!!

Will's Beer Bread

Shop till you Drop

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem. Well then,
My name is Melissa and I'm addicted to shopping.

I don't ever remember a time when I didn't want to shop. My mom was a complete enabler. My dad worked a lot, so my mom took my brother and I to the mall and would browse through all the sales racks. While I admittedly am a shopaholic, I'm a snobby one. I can't do the sales racks. I like to walk in, check out the mannequin and say, "I'll take it". My mom, however, will dig through for 45 minutes to find her "gems". And if it's on sale? Well, then she'll dig through another 45 minutes to find one in every color of the rainbow.

I can't dig, so imagine my delight when I was welcomed to the world of online shopping. Had this not come about, I probably would have been a multi thousandaire. But now, instead of dragging my four little ones into a crowded mall, only to find out that the sizes I needed were out of stock and go home empty handed (well, besides the $50 worth of Auntie Anne pretzels, lemonade, and Nestle Tollhouse cookies and milk that almost always are purchased while in the mall), I now get to shop in the peaceful, quiet of my house, at 10pm. Heavenly.

I've gotten quite good at finding awesome deals, and how proud my mom is that I now do not make a purchase without some sort of discount code or coupon code. Saving money without having to dig.

I've also been quite good at finding the best places to find the best items.
Check out this site...it's called Become.com and it's an online shopper, with product review site. Awesome.

A few favorites...starting with one of my moms:

Gloria Vanderbilt Capris

And what girl doesn't love handbags to accessorize new outfits with?

B Makowsky Handbags

Oh, don't forget the new outfits. Holidays are coming up ladies!!!!

Body Central Dresses

Diamonds are apparently not all girls best friends....

Where did my daughter come from? No, you don't need to answer, I have the stretch marks to prove that she and her twin sister were grown within my body. Everyone, well mainly Dave and my mom, say that I cater to Alaina and have made her the 4 year old little diva that she is, but truth be told, I do the same amount of catering to all my kids. Alaina is just Alaina. Or as we like to call her, Complaina.

4:20am. Cries of hysterics are coming from the twins room. I jump out of bed to check on whether Alaina fell out of bed and hit something hard on her way down or to see who is grabbing her out of her room and trying to steal her...because surely this is the only reason she is crying the way she is. I get to her, and she is in her bed, no strangers around...so why on earth are the tears streaming down her face? Fever? No. Vomiting? No. "Lainey, please tell me...what's the matter?" Her response, between muffled sobs, "I don't want to wear these diamond (crystal) earrings. I want the pearl ones. I told you this morning and you said after bath, but you didn't put them in...they are still the diamonds".....sob sob sob.

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

What other child on God's green earth is waking up at 4am and doing an earring check? Seriously?????
I tell her to get a grip, and we'll change them when the sun wakes up. I walk back to my room, to where my husband is snoring away...completely oblivious that someone could have been stealing our child....and lay back down. I can't sleep, so I start planning out outfits for the Disney cruise we're taking in November. Ok, so maybe I now see where she might get some of these tendencies.

However, I will *never* cry about having diamonds in my ears, on my fingers, on my wrist or neck...there are apparently a lot of things this little girl still needs to learn. Just not at 4am.

The Misfits

Wow, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of events. I sent my son to first grade and the other 3 of my kids to their last year of pre-school, threw a baby shower for a girlfriend, had a fundraiser with my neighbor for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, went on a whitewater rafting trip with the husband....and am now getting ready for a Tupperware party tomorrow night and then a trip up to NY for my next boutique show, and a consignment sale which I'm volunteering in a few nights later. When in the hell am I going to get to my laundry!? I might just have to buy us all some new underwear this week...

Anyway, let's talk about this Whitewater rafting trip. I got the trip for Dave two Christmas' ago. With the crazy schedules (see above and multiply that by 2 years), we finally were able to line up sitters (the in-laws) and plan the trip in August. Then came Hurricane Irene. So much for our trip that weekend. It was re-scheduled for this past Saturday....the day that fall decided to give us a little taste of what we were in for. Normally I'd be excited; making chili and sipping on hot apple cider. This day, I was freezing my ass off in 60 degree weather, putting my watershoe clad foot into what felt like an ice luge. Instead of glorious sun beating down on us through the 5 hour trip on the water, tanning our faces and bronzing our bodies as I initially envisioned it going down while purchasing this gift, I was suited up from head to toe in a wetsuit, that when put on, made me feel like the kid from "A Christmas Story", when he's in his snow suit and can't put his arms down. It was an overall-style wetsuit, topped with a wetsuit jacket, that when zipped up, looked fresh out of Janet Jacksons 80's videos with the big ass shoulder pads in them. But then out steps Dave from the changing room and it was almost worth the cold weather to see him in this getup. Let's just say we're glad we were married because this is not a look you want to sport, especially if you are a few lbs overweight and/or single.
Anyhoo...we look around at the rafting place. There is a huge firepit in the center of it all, for those waiting to go on there trip to stay warm. I grabbed a hot cocoa and went over there. Tons of guys and girls our age and a little bit younger. There were some High School guys who were shirtless and in swimsuits. This was the look I would expect for an adventure of this sort had it been 90 degrees. They were all flexing their muscles, but I have a strong feeling that it was because they were secretly FREEZING and needed to keep all body parts moving and flexing. I had body parts under mounds of wetsuit material that could cut glass....I couldn't imagine being naked. Dumb boys.
So, as we glance around, we notice an older couple in the corner. Probably 70's...how cute, but we joked that we'd probably get stuck with them and be leisurely paddling away from the rapids while we talk about how we share the same type of arthritis medications.
20 minutes later, we're all heading to the Safety Orientation, where they put us in our boat groupings. Sure enough, grandma and grandpa arthritis are paired with us, as well as a very cute couple, Juan and Dan, who are celebrating Juans 25th birthday. So, here we are...just the 6 of us. In comparison to all the other boat groupings, we are, for sure, the Misfits.

12 miles down the river was the trip. Dan and I get in the front of the boat, arthritis couple gets in the middle and Juan sits next to Dave, who is the captain of the misfit raft. We learn, from Safety Orientation, that we might see snakes (including rattlesnakes, to which Dan and I both gasp), bears, or fat, hairy spiders. Could this trip get any better?

So, off we start paddling. Grandpa is sitting behind me, and Dave is yelling commands, "Left side forward", to which grandpa is hitting me with his paddle because, OH, did I forget to tell you? He has to take out his hearing aid in the boat, so he is COMPLETELY deaf, and his *girlfriend* (who has a bad knee and is basically laying out in the boat) says we'll have to sign to him! Ooookay. A waterfall is coming up, so I turn and do the sign from the song "Itsy bitsy spider"...(the part with the "down came the rain") He seems to get it. Dave, Juan, Dan and I start paddling. The other 2 cruise along.

We are going around rocks and level 3 rapids (6 foot drops)...it was fun. Dan squealed louder than I did, most especially when he had a cricket on him (but truth be told, if it had been on me, I'd probably have jumped in the water) Grandma arthritis was not loving it and complained a lot to grandpa, who couldn't hear any of it, but the group gets along well and we commiserate at the chill factor in the air, as the sun that poked its head out in the morning, was now hiding behind the clouds, making it VERY chilly. So, I am in the front of the left side of the boat and my buddy Dan, grandma arthritis and Juan are all on the right side of the boat. Despite Daves yelling for "right side paddle", we are always turning to the right because they aren't paddling hard enough, putting me right smack dab in the face of the drop, thus the huge splash hits me square on, each and every time. I am looking like a chinchilla gone through a car wash. I don't know exactly what that might look like, but I'm thinking not good. Fast forward through the trip and when we get out at the end of hour #5, Dave unzips his wetsuit and his shirt is dry. However, this Chinchilla takes a long time to dry. Thank goodness Dave had the good idea to bring a towel for us to dry off with. If only it hadn't been in the raft and was, if possible, wetter than I was.

Luckily, we get back to the facility, I FINALLY pee after 5 hours (NO WAY was I undoing my entire wetsuit, OR chancing peeing in the facilitree's during our 15 minute lunch due to the the possibility of snake, bear, or my personal favorite hairy spider. I'd be running back towards water with my damn wetsuit at my ankles...I envisioned how it would play out and it just wasn't pretty. It was worth 5 hours of 'holding it' to avoid that situation.

But, all in all, it was a fun day. Something we would do again for sure. While I'm definitely envisioning a June timeframe, and 4 of our friends making the trip with us, Dave suggests to everyone that we come back for a reunion in a year from now. I can only hope Grandpa arthritis didn't have his hearing aid back in just yet.....

Where were you the day the world stopped turning?

Even though I am super excited to have my three little ones head off to pre-school today for another year of fun and learning, I'm feeling sluggish and my heart is heavy.

Could it be the tons of crap I ate all weekend long? Sure. But, what's lingering more in my mind is the upcoming 10 year anniversary of 9-11. While I'm unpacking from the weekend of fun in the beach, I'm going to start re-packing the family to head up to NY for the memorial.

My kids have been starting to pick up on the fact that something really bad happened 10 years ago. They have questions...it's the first time I've thankfully had to tell them about people dying, people being killed, bad people and planes. It's been hard. What to censor, how to explain it just right.

I've been watching the news, and reading the stories of first responders and families of those lost. My husband and I have both had the tears trickling down our cheeks. It's hard. Dave was in NYC, watching the terror and the towers fall. I, on the other hand, had just moved down to Arlington, VA and saw the plane hit the Pentagon. It was a day that changed America. It's a day that is still just as raw as it was 10 years ago.

As a parent, I can't imagine having my child feel this type of pain, this type of horror. I think about how my dad must have felt all the time. See, like I said, I had just moved down to my friends place and was staying there until we found an apartment to share. She, a born and raised NYer as well, was at work already and called me after the plane hit the first tower. I had just called my dad to see if he had been watching the news (he had)when the second plane hit. What the hell was going on!?
I was still on the phone with him, both of us watching the news, not really talking to each other, but still not wanting to hang up, when the building I was in started to shake. I remember saying to my dad, "Geez...I know we're close to Regan National Airport, but this is crazy", as I walked out to the balcony. The next thing I know the huge tail of a plane is in front of me, but I didn't know it was a plane at that minute, because it was so fast, so quick and then a HUGE fireball and explosion. I screamed, "We're getting bombed". The phone went dead. I started screaming. People in the streets were screaming and cars were stopping in the street. I'm trying to get my dad back on the phone (I shudder now thinking about how he felt not knowing what was going on, like so many other people that day, but hearing we're getting bombed from your child and then nothing....). Between NY and VA, the cell lines were all blocked up, but I do manage to get him one more time. He said, "Get out of there. Go to a school." Where the heck is a school?! I just moved there. I call my girlfriend back...she is leaving work, she heard about the Pentagon, and guides me to meet her there. On my way out the building, fire alarm lights are flashing in the hallways...I get my car and am stopped outside of the apartment building because there are Army tanks coming out onto the streets. Is this real? At this point, I hear, while I'm in the car, one of the Towers fell. Holy crap. This is just plain craziness. I finally get to meet my friend, and we head to her boyfriends where we watch, for hours upon hours, the horrific site in NYC and the Pentagon. It was awful and scary for me and I was really not ever in harms way. I can't imagine what others who were in danger were feeling. I try to imagine but I just can't. But I do know that everyone remembers what they were doing and where they were on Sept. 11th. It is encased in our minds and hearts.

9-11 turned me into a grown up as I then realized that bad guys weren't just in the movies, and terrorists really existed. We are not impermeable.

So, this September 11th, I will attend a memorial and say another prayer for the people whose lives were so tragically lost, and for the families left behind still dealing with the horror on such a personal level.
But going forward, I'm going to make September 11th a day that we take time out as a family and just enjoy each other. It's easy to get caught up with day to day life and all the activities that come along with school, kids, work...but this day, the day that the world stopped turning, will be a day of love and rememberance that any day can be our last. It will always be a day that I make certain to hug my kids a bit more, kiss my husband a little more, and try to spend time with my parents and loved ones. I'm especially thankful this year that my brother is flying in from California to be with us.
And although I will never forget, the terrorists will not win. I will not think about them on this day anymore. For me, from now on, September 11th is going to be about love, family and life.

Mumu's and Margaritas.

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!

I haven't written in a few days because we were getting ready to head down to Fenwick Island with the family. When I write "we", I mean, "I" was getting ready for the 6 of us to go. Shopping, Packing, Baking, Cooking, Loading the car...all me. My husband just has to show up in the car. My next life, I hope to come back as a man.

Anyway, we're down here with some of our best friends, and their kids. 4 adults and 8 kids. Well, should I say 10 kids, and Carla and myself. The point of this particular post is not about who did what, and who does not do much...this blog is about how we are 4 adults with a fridge full of food, and have been eating as though we are 4 anorexic sumo wrestlers trying to make weight. It's a bit ridonculous actually. Especially when I *know* I'm going to be donning a swimsuit. Luckily, I prepared myself and brought my post pregnancy mumu-esque bathing suit.

The beginning of summer I showed off my bikini body. Not my pre-pregnancy bikini body, but none-the-less, there were more tragic women wearing MUCH worse than I was. However, it's now Labor Day weekend, and in standard, end of summer bloat/weight gain, I'm bringing mumus back.

For today, we will drink the super fat, iced Margaritas at the pool, followed by rotelle and velveeta with chips, some guacamole, tacos and fajitas...and that's just the mid day appetizer. There will be dinner followed by an evening at the boardwalk where we'll get more cotton candy and ice cream, and maybe some fudge from the Candy Kitchen...then come home for more Margaritas and some Peanut Butter pie. Sounds like we'd never eat it all, especially since Margaritas and Peanut Butter don't sound like they go well together, but we do eat it and it actually doesn't mix too badly together.

So, we just finished breakfast (choc. chip pancakes, bacon and fruit....covered in Nutella, mind you) and our friend Pete walks in with 12 doughnuts from Krispy Kreme. Kids can't have that much sugar in the morning, so as dutiful parents would, we consumed it...all in the name of saving the children from obesity.

Now to get myself dressed in my mumu and head off for the day. Hmmm..that reminds me...I should put the bag of salt and vinegar chips in the beach bag....

So, off to the pool where this momma is gonna rock the mumu and Margaritas.
Have a festive, fattening day, and remember...the diet starts Tuesday!

Cheap is the new chic

Let's face it. Life as we know it has changed. This whole economy thing...such a complete and total bummer.
I took for granted the luxuries I had become accustomed to over the last few years, and I'm not even talking about the days of my Mercedes and Louis Vuitton bags. I'm talking about my bi-weekly trips to Target, when I couldn't walk out without "needing" $100 worth of....what the heck did I even buy, exactly?

Now, I've "decided"/had to become Betty Bargain. First, I needed to kindly let my kids know that they've been WAY too spoiled over the years BUT I want them to have fun and keep up with exciting surprises, as if we were millionaires. I want to be rich in fun and fabulousity...on a budget, of course!

So, here we go! 1st party on a budget. My initial goal was to throw the last minute Back to School party my son mentioned on a rainy day last week, and do it for less than $40. Apparently, an invitation to this party was sent out to Irene, and that girl showed up in full force, knocking out our electricity for a few days. Luckily, this party gal is a planner! I had looked around and found some great, FREE, printables for back to school...(notice there are quite a few of other occassions for free printables too)

Printables


So, I printed out the ABC banner and made our "Back to School" banner and some other paper printables. I also, pre hurricane, had gone to Walmart and gotten the paper products (Red and green plates and green napkins- all .97 each) For my apple drinks that you'll see below, I got cups for $2, Gummy Worms $1.49, and Red Fruit Punch $1.48. I had straws and printed the leaves from the above printables link above. I spent $1.99 on donut holes, and had red chocolate wafers that I had melted and then dipped the donut holes (which were put on wooden skewers that I also strangely had on hand) and set to dry. Prior to drying all the way, I broke pieces of pretzels and stuck them in for the stem and found green laffy taffy in my pantry (I'm a closet candy junkie and have the craziest selection of stuff in there at all times) and used it as the apple leaf. I stuck the apple "cake" pops into styrofoam that had been cut from an insert in one of my husbands packages from his company (had cleared that he didn't need it...I've learned that lesson awhile ago with my first cake pop trial). The styrofoam was place on top of a soup can that had been surrounded by #2 pencils (A Pencil Vase, if you will), which I got at Walmart for $1.40. This is adorable and I found the idea at:

www.inspirationforcreation.com

Initially, I had planned to order Dominos pizza as the main course. As a former New Yorker, I know this breaks all kinds of pizza rules, but I figure kids don't really care nor do they eat that much when there are 10 of them either antsy to play more or get dessert. Plus, Dominos had a $3.99 deal, and since I'm Suzy Savings right now, that was up my price alley. BUT, with the hurricane and loss of power, I sent a text to all the parents coming and said, "Bring what you want to Grill before it goes bad". So, we feasted on Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Buns that were in the freezer, Pork Chops, Meatball Hoagies...it was a protein feast!! Neighbors brought some veggies and dip and cut up strawberries, so we were set.

Another neighbor bought a frozen Duncan Hines cake that had defrosted (double chocolate fudge...hello!), and an hour or two before, when the power had finally come back on, I had baked up the rest of the tub of cookie dough that I had bought at Sams Club earlier this month. I printed up a sign that said, "You're One Smart Cookie..." from the free printables I listed above. Threw some apples in a bowl and used some of my Christmas Red Table Linens and we were set!! I threw out some glue sticks and rulers and pencil sharpeners on the runner as decor too. Free decor since we already owned it!

Earlier in the year, I saw colored pencils on sale for .50 cents a box. I stocked up with 10 boxes, but later realized...who needs 500 colored pencils, anyway?! So, I wrapped them up in brown paper bags, printed off a note to thank the kids for coming...."Good Luck this school year. Make each day a Master Piece. Love, Alex, Will, Samantha and Alaina" Stuck them on some green cardstock and taped them on...instant favors, for $5 total.

I initially had budgeted for $40, but ended up spending $16.27! But the look on my sons face when he came home from school and saw the setup was: Priceless.

So, people, it can be done super cute, and super cheap. I'm telling you...cheap is the new chic.

Here are some pictures from the evening!

Toddler Transport in Style

As most of you know from my previous posts, I am the mommy to 4 little ones. Back in the day when my first child was born, I was so clueless as I walked into Babies R Us to register for my baby necessities. I was all over the place with the "gun" which you aim at what you want and it links it to your registry.
It's an overwhelming, daunting process to see what is truly the best for your baby. I came across this site, which I linked below...it gives you a comparison for all types of strollers...conventional, joggers, prams, accessories...you name the kind, they've got it.

I wish that I had researched a lot more than I initially did. I guess not EVERYTHING has to be from Babies R Us. They are not the be all, end all...I think I got overexcited with the use of the "gun".

Take a peek at this link...let me know what type you would put your little guy/gal in!

Strollers

Tips for Surviving a Hurricane

I am a survivor.  I have survived Hurricane Alex, Hurricane William, Hurricane Samantha and Hurricane Alaina for the last 6 years. 

Now that we have Hurricane Irene coming...it's a perfect time to plan your Hurricane Survival party. Why suffer alone, right? I normally like to surround myself with other people...either so that they bring their mini hurricanes to entertain my hurricanes, or so that they can just sit and empathize with each other at how crazy the life of a stay at home mom is... 

Make sure to invite your guests to bring sleeping bags, and some hurricane essentials since most likely, the stores are empty of them all now anyway.   I checked my liquor store yesterday and was lucky to get all the essentials.

The two most important things for surviving Hurricane Irene, as a parent, are the following.

1. Chill a martini glass...plastic ones are fine. 

 Here is the recipe for The IRENE...Bring it!!

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped Flavored Vodka
1 oz. energy drink
1 oz. cranberry juice

Mix over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

2. Chill your Hurricane glasses to keep the festivities flowing...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/hurricane-cocktails-recipe/index.html


Whatever you do this weekend...be safe, eat, drink and be a meticulous momma!

Saving for a rainy day

When I was younger, I used to love the rain...the sound when it hit the roof was so calming to me.  I'd lay in bed and just listen to it.  When it was chilly out and there was a storm, I'd snuggle up on the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket and read a book or watch a movie.  I loved those quiet rainy days...they were relaxing, couch potato days.

Now, I loathe the rain.  This morning, for instance, the skies were gray, but I had already told my kids the night before that we were meeting their friends at the park for a playdate in the morning..."so brush your teeth and go to bed"!  They brushed and went to sleep, so when they woke up and it was thundering, they did not like that plans were cancelled...not in the least.  Tantrum time...begin.

In between a short stopping of the rain, I decide, this is going to be a ridiculously ugly day for me, so let's to run out to Blockbuster and get some never-before-seen (by my kids) movies.  I had 4 free movie passes, so hop onboard kids...this is going to be a family fun rain day!  Excitedly, they hopped into the car and we rushed down to get the movies.  Since they each got to pick a movie, there was no fighting or crying...just a little whining when we had to get to the cash register and they had 8 million different fun looking popcorn baskets and candy up the wazoo.  Oh, not to mention the Pokemon backpacks that the kids just needed to have.  Of course, I went from hero to zero when I said no. 

So in order to keep this family fun rain day from going totally south, I said, "Rainy day lunch boxes coming up".  They looked at each other in wonder and got in their seats, seat belts clicking away as they waited to get their surprise lunch box.  We drove into McDonalds (yes, I know, I know...just told the doctor yesterday that we hardly go there) and got 4 Happy Meals to go.  We get home and set up the first movie.  They all set up their lap trays and waited patiently as I doled out the chicken nuggets and apple dippers...(cause the Caramel dip that the apples go into are sooo much healthier than french fries, right?)  They get their milk and their napkins and we're all set. 

1 movie down and they are done with lunch and want a snack.  So I whip up some chocolate chip cookies.  We put on movie number 2 and within 20 minutes or so, they are snacking away.
Half way through the movie, the wrestling moves slowly start to happen.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Will roll off the couch...kind of slow...like a tiger hunting his prey.  Then he pounces...right on Alex.   Forget about the plate that was holding all of the chocolate chip cookie crumbs...knocked right over. They continue wrestling and the girls get up and start getting their coloring books and crayons out, but not in the normal way...they dump the LARGE crayon box because they "*need* to see all the colors, mom".

Wait, Wait, Wait.  What about the movie?  So I pause the movie.  We clean up the mess and I tell them to line up.  Time to do some exercise.  We do jumping jacks and stretches.  I'm a bit sad that I can no longer touch my toes without bending my knees.  One summer without yoga and I'm totally back to square one.  Meanwhile, Lainey has contorted herself into a pretzel. Show-off.

So they calm down and we're back to the movie.  It ends and now I'm ready for a break from Pokemon and Strawberry Shortcake, but the other 2 kids start crying that it's their turn.  That's when Alex and Alaina start to wrestle because they want to watch their movie next.  "How about we go downstairs and play some games and take a break", I say.  "NO!".  Finally, something they both agree on.
So, ladies first and Lainey goes.  We're watching Candyland, but Alex wants nothing to do with it. The kids start running around the house chasing each other, laughing and screaming.  Well, they are laughing...I am screaming.

So, they sit down and watch the movie (kind of) and Alex sits next to me and says, I want to have a party.  Hmmm....I'm intrigued.  What kind, I ask?  He said a school party.  PERFECT.  We google away.  We spent the next 20 minutes looking for invitations for a couple of our neighbors.  I told him we could do a small pizza party...they could each invite someone. 

 We found the cutest little free printables for all you Back To School party people!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fkimskandykreations.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fback-to-school-party-invite-printable.html&h=rAQA_TGCaAQCF9q65Xczh0npe72EAeAl5d-OZHAlvRiTCcw

So now, next Tuesday, we're having a little Back To School Party.  I will post pictures...it will be a small, intimate little gathering, but I can't believe I didn't start planning it sooner.  I mean, Alex will only go to 1st grade once, God willing.  ;-)

Now I'm in full planning mood and only Alex is watching his movie.  The phone rings...my brothers on the end.  For those of you with babies, or no kids at all, the phone ringing must be some type of alarm for kids...they start whining, fighting, climbing...on my leg, up my body....driving me nuts.

Finally the girls run upstairs after I threaten to cancel the Disney trip this year.  I finish up my conversation and go to find the girls.  Dress up time.  In their closet.  Everything on the floor, but their dress up clothes, which are still in tact, on their hangers. Grrrreat.

My husband is in Philly until 10pm tonight.  This means dinner alone with the kids.  But now the sun is peaking out and I get to deal with the whining and crying because "it's starting to be sunny, mom".  When do they realize that 5 hours of rain makes lots of mud?  Or maybe they do realize it because Will is talking about rolling around in a mudbath.  Either way, my hot cup of tea from this morning is still on the end table...very cold, and I need something to soothe my aching throat from all of my screams.  Plus, I've got one more show of Wizards of Waverly place until movie #4 is over.  And of course I'm the only one really trying to watch it...and I want to see how it ends, dammit.  But, Lainey is crying because Will is stealing her Silly Band Hair bows, and Alex is whining because he's "growning, mommy and I need chocolate chip muffins", and Samantha is crying because nobody is playing with her....

While one says you need to save money for a rainy day (partially true with the party planning going on throughout our day), what a mother really needs to save for a rainy day is...Patience.  

Lord of the Flies

Menopause is the WORST.  And, no, while I might be 36 and living with arthritis, *I* am not going through menopause yet...my mom is.  (And has been for what feels like 26 years).  She and my dad were recently in town for the twins birthday.  We prepared her room as we normally do...adding a big stand up fan, and lowering the AC a few degrees to help her hot flashes.  So what if the kids have to wear parkas and have icicles at the tips of their noses?  Grandmas happy.  And if grandmas happy, we all are freezing.

Anyway, the day after the party, there was a bit of a breeze, so my mother and I had the following conversation.

Mom: "It's a gorgeous day and the kids need fresh air in the house. The best source of air is from your kitchen window above the sink"

Me:  "But there aren't screens in that window, and the kids can run outside if they want fresh outdoor air"

Mom: " But, it feels so good".

End of "conversation".

My mom re-opens the kitchen sink window that I had just closed.  Why do I bother? Even my kids say to her, "Grandma...you are mommy's mom, so you're in charge of her, right?"  Oi.

In fly Moe, Larry and Curly.  Our first 3 visitors.  All within 32 seconds.  If only they were vampires and I could rescind their invitation that my mom had just thrown out to all the flies of the land when she opened the screen-less window.

Within an hour, there was David Jr, John-John, Arthur, Max and Troy. 

If you haven't guessed, all flies are male in my mind.

So,  finally, I overrule (with the help of my dad) and shut that window, not before Leo and Brad fly in. Mind you, I have about 35 windows in my house total...and the others are all open...the screen-less one just happened to be the BEST.

Fast forward 2 days...my parents are gone, but our "friends" are still here.  This morning Dave and I were awoken, not by the kids for once, but one of the flies!  (It was too early to name names).   This had me thinking...do flies even sleep???  I'm going to have to google that.

I shower, and come downstairs...my husband, per his sticky note- for those of you have read my earlier blog, has my tea made for me and sitting on the counter, but either Moe or Larry were sitting on the cup, already drinking it.  Clearly the fly needs caffeine more than I do, in order to buzz around my head all day.  I know it must be tiring.  I'm tired after walking down to get my mail each afternoon.

After breakfast is served, I sit to check my email.  John-John perches himself on top of the screen and I think Leo keep flying around my head.  Friggin menopause, I mumble.

I've discussed with my husband that if my mom comes back, we'll be adding "insert window screens" to our preparation for her arrival.  While it's been "fun" having these guys around, my days as Lord of the flies are numbered, hopefully sooner than later, as I spot Curly on the floor by the window.  Finally a sleeping fly! 1 down, 9 to go...

Indecent at the doctors...

Well.  The joys of turning 4 were over for my daughters this morning when they had their 4 year old well check visit at the doctors.  They were initially so excited to go to the doctors because they get to pick out of the big sticker drawer.  Like good girls, they always promise their brothers they'll bring a sticker home for them too.

So off we went, laughs and smiles.  We get there and they can hardly contain their excitement to weigh themselves.  Oh how things change the older we become.  They are high fiving each other when they have each gained a pound since I last weighed them on our home scale.  Again, the joy of being little and unaware that in years from now, they are going to dread this very part.  It's mainly the reason why I go to Minute Clinic whenever I'm ill.  Never takes a minute there, but they don't weigh you, so for that, I'll wait an hour.

So, we get in the room, and the girls shimmy out of their dresses.  Mind you, they are in skirts with ruffle tops, their tap shoes, the biggest bows they had and a big chunky watch (all of which they wore on the scale.  When I'm not able to visit the Minute Clinic, I wear a wife beater and jersey shorts, even if it's January 10th.  But I digress...)
So the girls get naked and the doctor starts asking me...how are they eating?  I say, oh they just started to really enjoy salads, and they like ground turkey, and then Alaina butts in, "But our favorite is McDonalds...we have 5 smurfs EACH".  I try to backpeddle and tell the doctor that we do go there, but my mom bought the kids the smurfs seperately...you don't have to buy a happy meal each time.  But either way, I wanted to keep the conversation going so that they didn't tell her that they also had every Alvin and the Chipmunk, Star Wars, Barbie and whatever other toy the happy meals have come up with in the last few years.
So, on with the questions... are they active?  To this, I couldn't even answer.  Samantha says, "Oh yeah" and she starts shaking her booty and dancing like she's been taught to dance at Score's.  Mind you, she's naked. Lovely. 
We go through the rest of the appointment rather nicely, until they are informed of shots.  Well....crap. I thought we didn't have them this time.  So, I entice the girls with the fact that they will be getting band aids, which for a few minutes, they are excited about.
Then, in walks the nurse with the shots.  Lainey can't wait for the band aid, so she hops on my lap.  One shot in and she's screaming.  Maybe it's the twin thing, but Samantha starts wailing too.  Lainey has stopped and Samantha keeps going.  Lainey gets her second shot and the screams are flooding the airwaves again.  But, I promise Lainey a piece of gum...sugar-free of course (I *almost* said McDonalds!!) and she quieted down.
  Now, for Samantha.  That girl got the strength of a Lion in a matter of seconds.  She started clawing towards the baby scale and then I got her on my lap and she is screaming like limbs are being ripped off.  My heart is breaking but we're trying to get her to sit still, so the nurse is sitting on her and me, and Sam is clawing...she grabs my dress and pulls that and my bra, exposing my boob.  Fabulous.  Then the door opens and the doctor walks in to see if everything is ok. By now, the nurse is tearing up, I'm crying, Samantha's crying, the nurse is sitting on both of us and my boob is out.  What a sight... I could only imagine.
Finally, things settled down and out we walk.  I try to run by the doctor, thankful that I'm done with this appointment and can get out, when the doctor stops me. The twins had their hearing test and each one of them had a slightly lower score in their left ear, so I need to bring them back in 4 weeks. Fabulous.  I'm still not sure if they really failed it because even the slightest crinkle of chip bag and they come running...  But maybe I gave them such a chuckle, being indecent at the doctors and all.  I'm not sure who is more scarred after that appointment.  Samantha, Alaina or myself.  Or maybe the doctor....

The twins tea...

  Well, we lucked out.  With crazy crack-a-lackin thunderstorms this whole week, we had a beautiful (hot) day yesterday for the twins party.  Luckily, the tea party itself was indoors at the Ely Tea Room (aka dining room).  10 little girls came, dressed in their best, and had a good ol' time.  We started out with crafts...gotta love www.orientaltrading.com .  They have the best little crafts for kids.   We made tea pots and also tea cup frames.   Then we moved on to a little dance party, which had the requested songs (Kesha, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry...what happened to Disney Princess songs?!) and then moved onto Pin the Teacup on the Saucer Game.  They all won feather fans after this game and apparently, because they had all just busted a serious dance move or two, they started waving them all over the place in effort to 'stay cool'.  Each girl  then got her own tea hat and boa.  Now there are feathers everywhere...you'd have thought we lived in a chicken coop.  But, we took a few pictures of the lovely ladies and sat down for lunch.  The girls all sat in their appointed seats, put on their pearls, because as we all know, a tea party luncheon is nothing, if not wearing pearls. 
The girls feasted on cream cheese and jelly, peanut butter and jelly (of course cut into teacup and teapot shapes) and fruit salad.  Of course we had to have edible little teacups.  They were cute and a hit with the girls.  They had cookie bottoms, a gummy peach ring, which was stretched around the top of an ice cream cone.  Then filled with m&m's and a candy necklace.
I was most amazed that all the girls, were sitting at the table, eating and chatting, while the moms were able to eat in the kitchen and chat as well.  By the way, for all the local PA peeps, Kings Bagels in the Acme shopping center of Downingtown...they have the BEST bagels here.  Comparable to NY, in my opinion.  I had them make a big platter of bagels; made up with either egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad.   They were delish.  Anyway, I'm getting too excited about these bagels...my point of the story was that it was QUIET.  The girls had such good table manners and were just sitting and chatting.  After lunch, the girls all got sugar cubes and I set a timer for one minute, and had them see who could stack the highest tower without it falling over.   The girls did this a few times, as I sat there envisioning the next days ant problem.  Afterwards, they went down to play in the basement while we cleaned up and got ready for cake.  Here is when the boys were allowed to come back from Chuck E. Cheese, where they were hiding out.  As soon as the front door opened and 6 little boys ran into the house, you would have thought you were seated in Madison Square Garden and Justin Bieber walked onstage.  The screaming and yelling and laughing went from a 2 to a 20, on a scale of 1 through 10.
So we sang and had cupcakes, cake, ice cream, cookies....the works.  It was sugar central. 
Then, present time.  Having twins open presents at the same time is kind of a shit show.  Between trying to write down (or in this case, have my mom write it down) who gave what and take a picture, and see who was getting what...it was time for a drink at that point.  And not a cup of tea.  Something much, much stronger.
After the girls friends left, my college friends stayed around with their kids and we had the "After Party".  This consisted of 100 water balloons that took my husband 1 hour to fill, but took 1 minute to go through.  Thank goodness for the waterslide! 
At the end of the day, a few more friends stopped over and we BBQ'd, and then later, it was time for the mommy's party to begin.  Strawberry Shortcake Martinis were in order. Check it out: 2 oz Cake Vodka, 2 oz. Amaretto and 2 oz. of Lemonade.  Muddle fresh strawberries and serve over ice.  It's delish. The 6th round, at 2am probably wasn't the smartest thing, but boy we were having fun.  This morning, at 7am; that was a completely different story.
All in all, it was a great weekend.  My house is a mess, but my kids are happy....and isn't that why we do all of this craziness?!

UPDATE!  The twins party was shown as the party of the day on one of my favorite party sites:  Catch My Party!  Check it out!!!

http://catchmyparty.com/party-of-the-day/1449

Queens for the Day

Hi everyone!

So today is the big day.  It's my daughters 4th birthday.  Tomorrow is the party, so for me, it's a big prep day.  But for them, they are, as they informed me, not princesses today...but queens.  Ok, for a day they can have my title of "Queen(s) of the castle".  It's not like I'm not going to be the fair maiden Cinderella, cooking and cleaning all day anyway!

I can't believe it's been 4 years since they were born.  I can't believe I still haven't lost all of their baby weight!  I can't believe I walked in to my closet this morning, and caught Alaina going through my bra drawer, because now she's a "big girl".    The day of a stay at home mom may be loooong, but the years fly by.

We went to Sams Club yesterday and right by there is Sweet and Sassy Salon for kids.  My girls haven't been there (yet) but have seen the pink limo that is parked outside for years now.  Before Alaina was even 3, she has asked to go in the "pink car".  I told the girls when they turn 5 we'll think about it...because it seemed so far away.  Yesterday, we left Sams Club and Alaina sighed as she looked out the window and said, "One more birthday and I get the pink car".  She's a girl who knows what she wants..and reminds you...on a daily basis, or in this case, every time we go to Sams.  I may just have to switch to BJ's for the year.

Anyway, I'm off to spend the day with my girls, which includes lunch at the gourmet, Chick-Fil-A. Tomorrow is the big tea party; I will post pictures on Sunday for sure! 

But for now, in honor of my daughters, I have for you a crown cake from Family Fun.  I made it last year with the kids...it is not hard and the kids had a great time decorating it.  Family Fun provides the template for the cookies to make it that much easier.   Today they eat like the kings and queens!  Enjoy!!!

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Perfect for almost any party theme, this jewel of a cake will make your little princess feel like a birthday queen.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup flour
• 16 1/2-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• Template for cookie pattern
• 4 tablespoons yellow decorating sugar

• 2 (16-ounce) cans white frosting
• Candy decorations (we used regular and mini M&M's, and Stardrops hard candies)
• 2 (8-inch) round cakes

Instructions

1. Knead the flour into the cookie dough to firm it up. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Using the template, cut out as many cookies as you can. Keep rerolling the dough scraps and cutting until you have 12 cookies -- 11 for the cake plus a backup. Transfer the cookies to a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle them generously with yellow sugar. Bake them according to the package directions until they're golden brown around the edges. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
2. Spoon 1/2 cup of the frosting into a resealable plastic bag. Snip off a corner of the bag and pipe designs onto the cookies. Add candy decorations as shown above. Allow the frosting to set for at least 1 hour before handling the cookies.
3. Use a long serrated knife to trim the top of one of the cakes flat, if needed. Place it on a serving platter, spread a thin layer of frosting on the top, then lay the other cake on it, rounded side up. Generously frost the stack and use a spoon to draw the frosting on top up to a point as shown. Carefully press the cookies around the side of the cake, piping lines of frosting between the cookies to secure them. Serves 11

Dave's sticky note

My husband, God love him, is not the most romantic man in the world.  I truly believe he used all of his romantic gestures up when we were dating and that's why he courted me so quickly.  However, once in awhile, he surprises me.  With his last job, he traveled soooo much.  He was away a week at a time, and at the time, 3 kids were still in diapers, so it was a bit rough for me. 
One particular trip, he left super early, even before our then 5:30am wakeup call from Will.  When I groggily came downstairs to get breakfast and bottles started, I opened up a cabinet and had a sticky note on it saying, "I love you".  This little gesture made me smile.  I continued to go through the kitchen getting breakfast ready and found more, but it wasn't until I went to my mug cabinet and found the sticky note of all sticky notes, "I wish I was making you tea".  Ka-Ching!!!
If you know me, you know that I am addicted to tea, like people are to coffee.  I can't function in the morning without it and need it in the evening too.  My all time favorite is Twinings Chai, in the red box.  It's delicious and I'm having a seriously hard time when I have to drink something else, especially (gasp) Lipton.
Normally, I'll ask Dave, who I've dubbed "Dunkin David" to make my tea...it's one thing that he can do for me, just because.  He usually, after I make my request, curses under his breath, or has some type of complaint, but grumpily goes into the kitchen and makes it most days.  He steeps it and all!  But when I found this note, I knew it was a keeper.  I have it posted on the refrigerator, and of course, since getting it, I'll gently remind him that it was his wish...who am I not to grant it?  I know I will never get another gesture of this sort, because he has told me he totally regrets writing that post it, but for now, it's my golden ticket. 

As I'm writing this, I've got a mug steeping.  It's been 16 minutes since he started it. He forgets sometimes that he's started it, so I'll have to gently remind him again. That's when he usually comes out of his office and says, in a creepy voice, "Yessss, master..." and walks hunched over, dragging his leg behind him.  All in the name of romance and post its....

Old before my time...

Good morning!
Or is it?  Normally, most mornings are tolerable, even if one of my kids is hovering over me at the earliest part of the day, when even the sun hasn't bothered to get up yet.  I have been woken many times by tiny little fingers pulling apart my eyelids, with dragon breath being blown on me as they giddily laugh that mommy is up and breakfast can now be served.  But, it's the pain, mostly in my jaw and shoulders, these past few weeks that makes mornings not so fun.
See, when I was at the ripe ol' age of 26, I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.  I had been suffering on and off with joint pain, but it was throughout my body, so I didn't really know that it was considered "joint pain".  It started in college, but thankfully, with the help of wine coolers and Busch pounders (only the best for me!), I was able to mask the symptoms for the most part.  As I got older, it got worse, until one day, I couldn't move my neck.  It felt like lightening bolts if I moved even the slightest bit.  I was at work, and my boss had to call my parents to come pick me up and take me to the hospital.  Turns out, my lymph nodes were so enlarged, they were afraid they would burst, so I needed to stay in the hospital for a few days on antibiotics and IV's until the swelling went down.  Still then, I wasn't diagnosed with anything but an infection, so I hadn't started treatment.
Finally, a doctor in Bethesda diagnosed me and started me on Enbrel, which is a subcutaneous shot that is supposed to be taken every 3 days; injected into my thigh.  That was when I was 26.  10 years later, I'm doing well.  I am lucky that I popped out so many kids, because as I found out, pregnancy can put arthritis into remission.  Who would have known?  Certainly not me, but I guess my body thought I was 87 years old, and then I go and get pregnant 3 times in a row, and it got confused.
However, this year, Dave switched jobs and now works for a company in Canada.  Canada has their own healthcare, so we had to get private insurance.  Because of my Enbrel usage (it's VERY expensive), I got denied.  So, I have independent insurance, which I pay a crap load for, and will come in handy if I get the flu or something, but pre-existing conditions are not covered.  Soooo, I've been trying to stretch out my shots.  I have 2 left.  And I need them to last till March.  That is like telling me that there is peanut butter pie in the fridge, but it's gotta last till the weekend.  And it's Monday. No way that's going to happen.
Anyway, I'm planning on taking a shot tomorrow, so I feel great for the weekend.  But after that, who knows.  I think about people who have conditions like me...at my age, being a mom to 4 VERY active kids...and who may not even have insurance.  It's crazy. 

But I focus on other things.  Like peanut butter pie, for instance.  Thankfully, I'm going to get my butt back into the gym when school starts and do yoga.  That helps.  I took an arthritis movement class once, but I was the youngest by probably 50 years, and the woman in front of me kept passing gas.  No thanks...I'd rather be stiff and achy!!

Well, off to see if I have the ingredients for the peanut butter pie, which is just delish.  Want the recipe for a super easy, scrumptious one?  Here you go!  Enjoy!

3/4 cup of PB

1 pkg. cream cheese

Blend together with a mixer

Add 1 tub of cool whip and 1 cup of powdered sugar

Put into a chocolate shell pie crust

Shave choc. for a topping (optional)

Freeze for 3 hours and then refrigerate. Enjoy!!

Tea for Two

So here you have it.  A glimpse into party planning mode.  Does this not look like part of your normal party planning experience?  Well, in mine, it is quite necessary.  In getting ready for the twins 4th birthday party (can you guess the theme?), I decided a photo shoot was in order as to add to the decor of the party.  So, I brought two very excited girls, and a ton of crap up to our local park. It was about 10am and 90 degrees.  I walked them to the area under a tree for optimal shade, so that they wouldn't screech and cry about it being too bright, and so that when I ran back and forth to my car to get all the "necessary props", I wouldn't sweat too much, too quickly.  Thankfully, we were only there with a handful of others, who at one point, started to ooh and ahh, when I got the girls all gussied up.  I took pictures, but wanted them to be candids...of course with all previous photo shoots, I scream and holler for everyone to look at me, so they got a little confused, but a serving of cookies and apple juice helped distract them from paying any attention to me and I happily clicked away.  They were very cute, and like the old biddy's they are (they are truly old souls), they commented on the weather and what a nice day for a tea party.  Only twice did Lainey ask me for "hot coffee, please".  (No, she has never had it, but asks constantly....4 going on 72).    There are a bunch more that I will share after the party, but wanted to give all those who are reading my blog, a sneak peek!!   Have a great night!

First Blog Ever..Will people like me? Will they really like me?

Hi everyone (or mom).
After months of having people sporadically tell me I should blog about my life as a stay at home mom to my four kids, I've finally decided to do it.  I know this isn't any type of breaking news that a stay at home mom would actually blog (where do we find the time!?) but hopefully my vast computer knowledge (of all the great shopping sites/discount coupons/creative and crafty sites) might be useful to you, and I can entertain you with a few stories about my children, which are always (in hindsight, of course) pretty funny.

If you don't know me, or know me through facebook, I'll give you some details about my life.  I tried to sum it up in my profile, but will give you an idea about me.  My past:  I grew up in Massapequa, NY and had an awesome HS experience.  I wish that everyone could enjoy HS like I did.  I don't know if I learned all I should, but damn...we had fun times.  I went to college at Penn State University.  I've always had a feeling that I would go there.  I don't know why, although my mom told me that when I was younger, I saw someone wearing a PSU sweatshirt and I liked it, so that's where I was going to go.  And if you haven't caught on, when I put my mind to something, there is pretty much no other option.  I'm a tiny bit stubborn.  Anyway, I digress.  I had an awesome time at PSU.  Same deal as high school.  Don't know if I learned all that I should have, but holy hell, it was awesome.  I graduated and went to work in the hospitality field, but the long hours and crap pay wasn't all that I wanted.  I eventually ended up in Bethesda, MD and worked in sales.  Now that was more my speed.  I had flexibility with my schedule, wasn't tied to a desk, and got to drive in my beloved Mercedes.  It was a CLK320 and I loved it.  Black exterior, cream leather interior...it was my baby.  It didn't matter to me that the engine was crap and I was always having to bring it in to be fixed...I poured my money into it, but loved it none-the-less.  I also spent way beyond my means in other ways too.  I was addicted to Louis Vuitton bags.  I would go to www.eluxury.com  and order a bag here, a wallet there, luggage (that was my CRAZIEST Louis purchase...I was soooo scared after I hit that button, but my good friend Carla assured me that it's a lifetime purchase. She was so right...I mean, Louis' never go out of style...who cares that it's a canvas bag for a months worth of pay)  Anyway, when those purchases would arrive in their beautiful white gloss box with the huge purple bow, it was like my birthday and Christmas all together...aaaah, the days. 
I met my husband when I lived in Bethesda.  We dated for 6 months before he bought a house because I just couldn't fit my stuff into his condo that he begged me to move into.  Who the heck was I?!  Anyway, we moved in together into our first house and got engaged about 6 months later.  Luckily, right after we moved in together, Dave asked my dad for my hand in marriage.  We went to the Bahamas on vacation and got engaged.  Poor Dave was trying to ask me to marry him the second night we were there.  He asked if we could go to the beach at sunset and take some pictures.  I wasn't in to it.  We went there and I felt pretty stupid sitting on the beach with him taking my picture, so I goofed off and kept making faces.  Ruined attempt 1 for the proposal.  We went off to dinner where he was planning attempt 2...but instead of the romantic restaurant he envisioned when making the reservations, we were surrounded by families and (gasp) kids running everywhere as fire dancers and entertainers ran around after them.  It was a cool restaurant, one we'd go to now, but he was not so happy as attempt 2 was ruined.  We went back to the hotel room, he ordered champagne, I wasn't feeling well, so I fell asleep and he drank the bottle alone.  Poor guy.  
Luckily on day 3, we went on a Booze Cruise which stopped at Rose Island.  It was a beautiful place and we took a walk around the Island, and he just stopped me and took my sunglasses off and started saying all these things.  I was taken aback a bit, until I realized what he was doing.  I don't remember what he said, but I remember him getting on his knee and then me walking backwards, away from him.  What?!  I know...I just wasn't expecting it then and there, but I came to my senses and came back to say yes, and of course check out the rock.  The guy might not get my clothing size or shoe size right (ever) but he knows his jewelry!  So we got engaged, and celebrated the rest of the day...it was awesome...amazing...so happy I foiled the day prior!  When we got off of the boat, I was feeling really, really woozy.  Sea legs, of course.  And Dave said I probably just needed to drink more.  We stopped to get a drink, and for me to buy my first Bride magazine, of course.  I felt like my world was spinning.  Ugh.  Not fun.  But, I had a mimosa when we got back to the room, and I felt a bit better....
Tried to call my family and friends then, but ALL the phones on the island were out.  It was so weird.  Finally the next day, we walked to Atlantis, and I was able to make a call from the lobby.  My parents thought something had happened (like I said no) because here it was 4 days into our trip and we hadn't called with the news.
Anyway we went home at the end of the week...I made a doctor appt. for when we got back because I was still feeling so sick.  I thought I might have a blood clot (I have a blood clotting disorder).  The doctor asked if I could be pregnant.  Hell to the no.  No way.  So I called Dave and asked him to bring home a pregnancy test that night.  We both had a laugh...he came home and I casually took it, not worried at all.  As I went to put the stick on the counter and wait my 3 minutes, I looked at it and saw PREGNANT.  Is this stick right?  I just peed on it 5 seconds ago.  I walk out, stick in hand, and into the kitchen.  Dave looks up and he gets a huge grin, and shouts an excited, "No way!".  In all my dramatic flair, I fall to the floor and start sobbing.  That was the beginning of what is now my biggest achievement ever: the start of my family.

Fast forward to December that year, we have Alex...he's perfect.  We decide  we want to move closer to my family in NY, so one night over a batch (or 2) of Mojitos with some friends from the PA area, we discuss moving up by them.  My friend Rob is a realtor (go figure) so he whips out his computer and starts showing us new construction areas.  Over now our 4th round of Mojitos, we plan to come visit them in PA the following weekend.  We head up that next weekend, and leave with a deposit on a piece of land.  Guess we're building a house!
Then we decide to start trying for our second.  We were lucky.  First try and we're pregnant.  During the pregnancy, we move to our new house.  It was sooo stressful (hindsight: not so much).  But, it was great.  In October, we welcomed our son, Will.  6 weeks later, after my doctor appointment, I had a drink with my husband.  First one.  3 weeks later, I'm still feeling weird.  Oh no.   Not again.  Head to Target with my mom.  I have Will in my cart and Alex is with my mom.  I make sure to checkout at a different lane than my mom so she doesn't see the pregnancy test in my cart.  We get home, I run into the bathroom.  It took the full 2 minutes, but shiiiiit.  PREGNANT.   Again, I come out of the bathroom, and in full dramatic flair, I fall to the floor. But I don't cry...my poor mom thinks I'm having an asthma attack or something.  I tell her I'm pregnant and have to tell Dave. She is dumbfounded.  My newborn is still sitting in his car carrier and my almost 2 year old is playing with blocks.  I get into the car and start driving to Dave's office.  I stopped at the Dollar Store and picked up a Congratulations balloon with pink and blue faces all over it.  I strap it into the car seat and call Dave to tell him that Alex wants to see him and I'm stopping by.  5 minutes later, Dave comes walking to my car.  I tell him to get Alex out of the seat.  He opens the back door to the balloon.  He turns and says, "No way"...not as excitedly as the first pregnancy suprise.  We hug, share a quick, nervous laugh, and he walks into his building, balloon in hand, shoulders a bit slumped.   Fast forward a few weeks, we go into the first sonogram appt.  Dave is feeding Will, and Alex is asleep in the stroller.  The tech gasps....we look over and she says, "You're having twins".  Dave laughs, I curse.  This is the beginning of the Ely Family...party of 6.

Fast, fast forward and I'm now a minivan driving mom to four little ones.  4 kids in 2.5 years.  So yes, I'm a little off my rocker these days.  My minivan is always dirty, my purchases no longer get sent to me in white boxes with bows.  I don't get birthday cards from Neiman Marcus anymore.  I should start getting them from Target though...you would think they would do that with the amount I spend there. But life is fun.  Right now, Alex is 6, Will is 4 and the twins are turning 4 on Friday!  We are in full party planning mode....that's what I do now, by the way.  Instead of hosting cocktail parties (which is a good thing since my closet full of expensive clothing still sits up there...waiting for me to drop the 15 pounds that I've earned over the last few years),  but now I host playdates and birthday parties, that I try to do up with a Martha Stewart-ish flair (which does NOT always turn out that way!)  But, I've made it this far without being put in a straight jacket, so I'm feeling pretty good. 

So there you are.  My life in a nutshell.  This is just the beginning.  I plan on sharing, if you're interested, in our lives.  This week, like I mentioned, it's all about the twins upcoming Tea Party.  I will post pictures and the sites that I've found some of the more creative things I've done in preparation. 

Thanks for reading this...keep posted...some of the sites I've come across are super helpful for you parents out there!

Melissa