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Ahhh to be little again?

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to hide just about anywhere? Somedays I wish I could crawl into the smallest cabinet too! And not worry about the outside world or what chores have to get done.

Acting like total silly monkeys at the zoo and not worry about what other people think?









Play with just about anything and not have to worry about all the must do's of adult life?

Lay down anywhere for a nap and not care that it is on unfolded laundry.
And not care about taking a dip in a teeny pool on a small patio butt naked in cool from the tap water and not care and just enjoy it.

Finding joy in anything we do...isn't that what God wants us to do? It isn't always easy though is it? Putting into focus our daily tasks as a resounding song onto the Lord brings us peace and joy in ways that we least expect it. I never thought in a million years that having children would open my eyes to such Truth.

Thank you my Imanni, Josh, Ben, and Sophia. I love you all so much - I wouldn't be me with you.

Markerville

Why markers should not be left around unattended - oh yeah and why keeping an eye on your kids ALL the time is required if you expect to be a responsible parent...good thing these were not permanent and NON toxic! Phew!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ON THURSDAY

OK I know its not Wednesday...now...so I had to post my wordless wed pic today. Sorry!

NOTICE THE SIGN OVER THEIR CUTE FEROCIOUS HEADS?

Sight Words - Free Printables

Looking for a way to sharpen your Kindergarteners word recognition before school starts?

This sight is so cool! I'm heading out to the local Walmart for some cardstock to print these on.

http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Games/GamestoMake/games_to_make.htm

Eggsactly what we needed!

It is gloomy and look-a-like-a-rain day here in Chicago. So we ain't goin' out! Sooooo...here are some cool crafts I'm going to do with the kids today! I can't wait! Off to the kitchen I go!

http://video.about.com/familycrafts/3-Easy-Egg-Carton-Crafts.htm

I can't figure out how to post the actual video so you will have to go to the link - sorry!

If I Can't Tattoo Now - Then When?

I just came from "THE GIRL THAT BLOGS" blog. And she had a posting of her tattoo and all that comes with that being married and all. Hilarious.
So I commented...

I'm 27 - ok 37 going on 38 in August and I want a tattoo sooo bad! I am a Christian but so what! I'm not going to be covered in Satanic doodles! Although I do already have a tattoo which was so stupid it is a "HOT STUFF" laying on a cloud - bad, ugly tattoo which I got just below my bikini line when I was 23 and semi-retarded not thinking because I just had to get something! And of course 4 kids later it is stretched out to oblivion and look like a fat overweight HOT STUFF on a marshmallow. But hey if I EVER get a tummy tuck (which I'm pushing for my 40th birthday) I'll be back good as new - but in the meantime I've been itching for a tattoo at the back of my neck and a nose piercing. Hubby is not thrilled and my 13 year old boy is like "Mom, are you serious? Are you gonna turn all gothic and stuff?" Ah...too funny. But damn. If I can't choose to do something fun like this at 37 (38 really) then hell when am I? When I'm 90? NOT!

Sleepwalking No More...

I've had an amazing moment of "awakening" today. I haven't realized what a sleepwalker I've become. Not in the sense of sleepwalking while I sleep, I mean sleep walking through my life. Through motherhood. I cannot imagine how many precious moments I've missed being "too busy" with work, drama, life, worries, 1st marriage, then 2nd marriage, "what ifs", "shoulda, coulda, woulda" I think to myself how sad...How terribly sad to say that I've overlooked so many of the blessings that I truly have.

Here's how this all came about - today. Yes, today.

I was looking through my website and emails when I received an updated facebook entry. So I go to check it, which leads me to another link, which leads me to another link with a great blog on motherhood, which lead me here: Kayleigh's Story
Which then lead me here: Kayleigh's Video

This story changed my life today. When people ask me "what is your conversion story?" I will mention today. (The first being approximately 7 years ago.)

I haven't cried like I cried today in a LONG time. I "woke up" to the realization of just how selfish I had been, ungrateful, angry and stupid I have been to have overlooked the LOVE I really have in my life. Nothing - NOTHING - matters anymore. Just my children and my wonderful husband. Money, things, circumstances, ignorant/arrogant people who've torn me down in the past, do not matter anymore. How clean my house is, how perfect my drawers are organized, how much business I draw in, doesn't matter. I am so blessed and I can't believe that although I've said it before, I never truly believed it until today. God filled me with a love today that I have not felt in I don't even know how long. I dropped everything and held my children. Josh 5, Ben 3, Sophia 14 mo and Imanni 13. I kissed them and told them how much I truly loved them. I then called my husband and told him that we can no longer waste a moment complaining about anything in our lives anymore. No matter what - we have eachother and we have our children.

Kaleigh has fought for her life, she is in heaven now, her parents have stood strong for her and I can rest assured that nothing NOTHING matters more to them than having their baby girl with them. My earnest prayers go out for them with all I have in me. I will make sure to keep them in prayer regularly. They have blessed me in such a huge way and I have never even met them.
Thank you for sharing your story and waking up this sleepwalking mother.

Father's Day Hooplah!

So here are some photos from our trip to RaceMakerz!

Way cool...but I have to say "not cheap" by any means. They make it seem like it would be affordable but once you go "custom" get ready to pull out the wallet Mommy & Daddy! Word to the wise...the remote control option alone is an additional $25! Add the chassis, stickers, wheels...it adds up.

Phew! We won't be doing this again for a loooooooong time! The boys loved it though...Daddy too!




Once the sticker price shock wore off...everyone was off to a sweet sweet nap time.

EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE...JOSH...THE SLEEPLESS ONE...

Of course we didn't forget to get Daddy a gift!
Two books for my avid reader...
"The Last Lecture"
"The Bourne Legacy"

Favorite Kid Photo Blog Hop

Need I say more? My now 3 year old - then 1 year old - devouring Guacamole right out of the tub. Priceless!

SUPER DEALS - VIA BLOG ONLY!

BOUTIQUE TRAVEL WIPES CASES!I was inspired by Waddlers & Toddlers' Blog special to post a special deal of my own from my store Mod Mami only available to my Blog peeps!

So here it goes!

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Simply go to http://www.modmami.com ~ click on GO SHOPPING - ALL PRODUCTS - AND choose either DESIGNER INSPIRED or FOR TRENDY MOMS and view wipes cases.

Simply email me at adry@modmami.com or post a comment with the detail of your travel wipes case choice with all the trimmings desired and get these at a super bargain price! I will send you an invoice via Paypal so mention your paypal email address. :)

How much for shipping? Flat rate shipping now in effect for only $6.00 so the more you buy, the more you save!

Happy Shopping!

Ok...What is the point?

Do you have a husband you love dearly but that annoys you to no end? Just little idiosyncrasies that drive you up the wall? Childhood habits that have you hiding in the closet just waiting for the day to end? Ok...that's a little extreme but you get my drift.

Here is my husband...

Isn't he handsome?

He's a hardworker even with baby strapped on just to give mommy a break...Awe...

He's tender and sweet and sacrifices much to be with his babies...

He is creative and motivated to keep the kids busy and active with hands on activities...

But then there's this...(in gest!) Moments where we just want to strangle each other. Lovingly...is that even possible?

OVER THIS STUPIDITY...I KNOW! BUT SOOO ANNOYING!!!
OK...Imagine you're hungry you make a sandwich lick your lips in anticipation thinking how great that sandwich would go with those chips in the cabinet. You know there some there because you saw the bag in there lastnight (although you didn't look inside the bag). Then you sit down to eat and remember the chips. You get up to go get them and find this...

BAG #1: You could call this empty, but "technically" it isn't...so you snarl because you know it was your husband who did this (I'll tell you why at the end) and you go to the next bag.

BAG #2: Again..."technically" not empty - but worthless nonetheless. You snarl again....and go to the next bag...

BAG #3: Yet again another "technically" not empty bag. You wonder if your husband is laughing at you at work? Or is this some sick twisted way he feels in control? I know I'm nuts...

SOOOOO WHY DOES HE DO THIS???? BECAUSE IT MAKES HIM FEEL LESS GUILTY KNOWING HE DIDN'T "TECHINICALLY" FINISH OFF THE BAG(S)!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

OH YEAH...THERE WERE NO MORE CHIPS AFTER THIS 3RD BAG BY THE WAY! Chipless lunch it was...oh well.

So I called him at work and left him a message like this....

"WHY do you this?! You know this is a pet peave! Knock it off! I know where you sleep! If you're gonna finish off the chips just do it already and stop this annoying childhood habit of yours. Seriously "technically" you DID finish these bags of chips - so baby by leaving the few crumbs behind does NOT delete the calories you ingested!!! Oh yeah and STOP DOING THIS WITH THE CEREAL TOOO!!!! (pause...for effect you know) By the way, I love you and I'll see you later! (in a sweet voice).

Gotta love him!

It's Sunday - Antsy kids...what to do?

LACING






FINGER PAINTING BUGS IN A JAR AND FILLING IN WITH COLOR MOMS POOR EXCUSE FOR DRAWING




COLOR STICKS: I found that idea somewhere online. Drawing a blank now. But they are simply clothespins with the ends colored in at the tips with a permanent marker, the name of the color written on each one, then you ask your child to pull off a particular color and drop it in the tupperware. Then have them pick them back out when done, name the color and put them back on the edge of the tupperware. Its fun, simple and super cheap to do.


WHAT ABOUT DADDY?
SLEEEEEEEEPING.

No Suggestions?

Come on don't leave me here alone now. There has to be some one, any one with experience, successful ones?

http://maxedmom.blogspot.com/2009/07/bedtime-drama.html

Princess Bday Party

So the party was a HIT!

memo:
I did my best not to obsess over floors. Yes lots of deep breaths and I just want Empire to take the floors out at this point, cancel my bill and get carpeting (with someone else of course) so I can have my sanity back. The party was held in the courtyard, but there was traffic in and out of the house.

So here are some pics.

Princess Birthday Girl

You know pin the tail on the donkey? Well I couldn't find one the night before SOOOO I improvised! I picked up a princess plastic tablecloth folded it and taped it to the wall, then I purchased matching princess stickers and we played PIN THE FACE ON THE PRINCESS!

Birthday Cake Face Time!

Mommy (me) kissing Birthday princess

Mega Mostaccolli Feast (almost all gone!)

Super Balloon Bonanza (I could have gotten more don't you think?)

Gift Bags & Basket made by me!

Decorations In House

Now that the party is over and I've mopped a million times to get all the grime out, I'm finally relaxing. :) Coffee and patio sitting. Ahhhh....

BIRTHDAY STRESS

Tomorrow is Sophie's birthday party. I'm stressed out. I need a wig. Hair falling out fast. Tense shoulders = little patience. Thank God my sister in law took the other 2 little ones for the night. They LOVE and adore her so they were happy to go.

So tonight I cooked more mostaccolli (sp?) than any woman should ever cook. The smell I swear is permanently tattooed to the inside of my nostrils.

I shopped all day with 4 children. Yes you read it right. ALL 4 whiny, crying, clinging, fighting can't seem to find any joy in anything children. Just today. Of course the day that I had to do sooooo much! After I cried my eyes out in the Taco Bell parking lot, I felt much better and farther away from the desire to get on a plane to Tahiti. Yes by myself!!!!

Tomorrow I have to pick up 4 dozen balloons. Yay. Can't wait to see how I'm going to do that in my already overcrowded mini van. But yet tonight - now 9:05pm - I still have to go to Walmart for other supplies I was too busy to remember because I was too busy hearing my voice (which I cannot stand anymore today) say....

"come here, stop that, don't touch that, leave him alone, leave her alone, knock it off, don't touch, don't touch, don't touch, not now sweetie, tomorrow is the party honey, no not tonight tomorrow, no you can't have that, let's go pee-pee, tomorrow is the party honey, tomorrow sweetie, what did I already say? come back here, stop running with the cart, I wish your father was home, where are you going? I can't see you! don't you hear me?! HOW ABOUT NOW! (in the middle of Hobby Lobby).

So off to Walmart I go to do an all nighter decorating my already small place where I'm expecting somewhere around 25 people or so - yay more stress! Oh and did I mention at all what crappy flooring Empire sells? These laminate floors can't withstand a drop of water sitting too long. My neurosis should completely be out of control tomorrow as I obsess over people & children with the cups of fluids. AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

It's off to see the Walmart, the wonderful Walmart of Palatine!

Summer? Really? Naw...

So...I'm shocked at the weather today here in Chicago. It actually feels like summer. This is the 2nd time all summer (which is not that long anyway) that I was able to use my AC. How long will this beautiful weather remain? Let me not jinx myself here. But seriously, it has not felt like summer at all this time around. Depressing! I really want to just chuck it all and move to Florida. Beaches, sand and sun oh my! But it seems like that will never happen and when it does happen, I may be too old to withstand Florida weather.

Bedtime Drama

Is bedtime a chore for every parent or just for the unfortunate few? Bedtime is the time when there is peace, harmony and a smooth transition from one long day into the next. However, HOWEVER, not in my home. It is like a wrestling match here in the Viola home. We spend time with the kids, we have dinner together, they have an active day (for the most part), they have a nightly routine since they were babies. They should be dog gone tired and WANTING to go to bed. Not to mention the fact that they need their rest and for the most part even skip naps to ensure the need for sleep. So...what am I doing wrong? What are WE doing wrong? Why is bedtime so hard and are there any REAL surefire ways to get these beautiful blessings from the Almighty Himself to go to bed peacefully and willingly? Anyone? Help me out here. Comments? Suggestions? A reality check?

DI-NAH!!!!

DI-NAH!!! That is the word I use for dinner. That is my sore spot every evening. What do I cook? Do I want that? Do I want to cook that? Do I WANT to cook? It is the daily battle of "I need to feed my family" and "we can't live on cereal". I thank God that I don't have to slaughter my food in order to eat, nor that I have to go hunt it because I think for sure we would truly starve to death.

So I stare at my fridge, go to the deep freeze, back to the cabinet, and back to the fridge again. Then...I look at my stove and give it a snarl. Think it cares? Probably not and sometimes I think it does - ok I AM crazy and I need to get out more.

Maybe I should enjoy the kitchen more. But don't. Am I not normal? Although I consider myself an ok cook, I don't like to cook. I do it because I have to or we'll all end up in the ER with bad hearts.

Anyway, tonight its brown rice, sweet peas and super delish pork chops ala Cuban. With spanish seasoning, onions, cilantro, spanish paprika, garlic and lemon juice. Mmmmmm...ok so I'm not crazy about cooking but I can throw down when I want to.

Let me go check on my chops!

1st Birthday Invite!

So Sophia's 1st birthday was actually in May, but since everyone has had a party every weekend since I was finally able to set up a party! Woo hoo!

I went shopping for invites and boy are they expensive! And considering they will be thrown away after all is said and done, it just isn't worth it for me to dish out big cash for that. Sooooooo...after perusing the halls of party city and ready to walk out I see what to my surprise for $1 at the checkout counter? A pack of Notecards that were blank inside but with a princess theme on the outside. PERFECT! I figured...I'm creative. I can make these look fabulous! So here's what I did.

Decorated the cards inside and out. Printed up my own date/time/place sheets, cut them and placed them inside along with directions to our place (not seen here). Printed a bunch of cute photos of Sophia and had them printed in wallet size then I picked up self sticking picture corners and place the photo inside as a keepsake to the invitee. I added bows inside and out and little pink self sticking gems to showcase my little princess.

So...whatcha think? It was time consuming but so much fun. I just finished sewing her a dress. I'll post photos later. :)

Stress eating could very well be the death of me. Nutrisystem?

Alright, I admit it. I am guilty of being a stress eater, snacker, a gorger (is that a word?) you get my gist. My cholesterol is ridiculous, I have the energy of an 80 year old (no not those super active wonder woman kind of 80 year olds - the other kind!), and I have 3 small children to keep up with, not to mention a business. So Avoid STRESS eating. When I feel stress building up I immediately notice a craving to snack on junk food. So, my new way to deal with stress? Read. I pick up a good book, with a glass of water and try to relax.

I have 3 small children so I have many "stress" moments, so you can imagine before I caught on that my cravings and overeating were really linked to my stress my major complaint was "wow, I can't get these post baby pounds off" - well, go figure.

So what have I heard over and over again from all the babes on TV with hot bods? The following and its time I do these things along with yeah...exercise! As if chasing my 3 little ones wasn't exercise enough. But I guess if you add all the chasing around, housecleaning, shopping, running errands (hey...I should be super thin!) and add STRESS to it along with lack of sleep...its a wash.
So being fairly intelligent I really need to add MORE exercise to outweigh the stress. Got it. I got it! No MORE infomercials! Pahleeeze!

Small portions several times a day staves off those "I'm starving" moments where one is most likely to gorge to satiate the growls.

Getting 8 hours of rest nightly.

Drink plenty of water.

So I call out to Nutrisystem! Please help me get these 30 pounds off! I've accomplished 20 on my own. Won't you help me now claim victory over these last 30?

I've filled out the giveaway contest on MomLogic.com
Here's the LINK - you could win 2 months of FREE nutrisystem meals! Woo hoo! Bring it!

New Blog! YAY!

Thanks to Crissy for all of her hard work to make the blog of my dreams come true! More than I imagined and more than I expected. Crissy went above and beyond and I am so grateful for all of her hard work.

Please join me here and enjoy all of my silly ramblings of daily motherhood and the hope found each day regardless of the stressors that (let's be honest) can make any mother feel like she's losing all of her hair.

Not all of my postings will be pretty, well-tailored, or even perfectly worded. But, nonetheless, a piece of me shared with you.