pros vs. cons

Since our dog is being challenging lately I thought I should try focusing on the reasons I like him.

So here they are;

1. I never have to clean up food scraps from the kitchen floor

2. I am comforted in the fact that we have a big dog every night I'm home alone with the kids

3. My kids love dogs because they've grown up with one

4. He's kind of fun to show off

5. He scares the mice out of the house (I don't actually have proof of this, but that's what i tell myself)

6. He forced me to meet the neighbors (they can catch him within 10 minutes now! yes that is an accomplishment)

The [not so] terrible twos

Why does one of my favorite ages get such a bad wrap? Now since this will be my 3rd time going through this phase I obviously know all about the tantrums and curiosity and general busy-ness that goes along with it. but yet I still find myself loving the silly antics and reckless abandon that my (close to) 2 year old partakes in everyday.

I love that Gaius is becoming aware of the world around him and remembering things. Today he came up to me with our Annie DVD in hand and started sing "Tomorrow" to me. `Also 2 days ago he started calling me "mommy" instead of just ma. I know these aren't all that amazing to the normal person. But I know that's showing some major cognitive development (uh-oh my child psychology classes are showing).

I adore when my kids start becoming slightly more independent (and consistently sleeping through the night), but still want to cuddle some everyday. At 2 everything is so new and exciting, but a kiss from mom can heal all kinds of ailments. At 2 you don't have to sit and entertain them either. Because lets face it the coolest toy they've ever seen is a stick that could potentially poke out an eye. You do have to run around after them since they have no fear yet, but don't we all want to get fit anyway? I wonder how many calories toddler chasing burns?


Hello my name is Korleen and I'm a mom who loves the twos

The Mama Files

Wish List:

1. know how to change the oil on the lawn mower

2. know how to landscape my yard (I have no vision for landscaping)

3. know how to teach my kids to be thankful in this country of selfishness.

4. travel to Africa, Italy, Paris, and Hawaii

5. Learn how to surf

6. Fit into jeans 3 sizes smaller then I can now

7. Go to bed 2 hours earlier every night

8. know how to put up drywall

9. see all of my children accept Jesus as their Savior

10. That chips and salsa had no calories

11. adopt a child

12. live in an old victorian house

to be continued...

Only at youth soccer....

...is it more important to wave to mom than watch the ball.

... do the white lines on the field mean absolutely nothing

...can someone take a ball to the face, knock out a tooth, make a goal, stop the game search the field, and find the tooth (all in 3 minutes flat).

...can you spend the whole game fighting for the ball with a player from your own team.

Whoever said soccer was boring obviously hasn't watched 6 and 7 year olds play.

I Double Dare you....

To spend a day in a mother's shoes.

here's a run down of my day:

8:00- wake up to 3 children yelling at the top of their lungs from upstairs
8:05- reprimand 3 children for yelling while the rest of the house is asleep
8:06- make breakfast for 3 children & 1 dog
8:30- clean up from breakfast
8:35- tell older 2 children to get dressed
8:38- get baby dressed & tell older 2 children to get dressed
8:40- take dog out (outside, not on a date)
8:42- tell older 2 children to "hurry up and get dressed. this is the last time I'm telling you"
9:00- start school
9:03- baby is sick of coloring and wants to climb all over mommy/teacher
9:05- teach phonics while baby cries at the teacher's feet
9:15- turn on Dora the explorer to entertain the younger 2 so we can get at least phonics and math done this morning.
9:45- finish phonics and math *whew*
9:48- check on younger 2 (the living room is WAY too quiet)
9:50- set up oldest with handwriting
paper
9:51- take a shower
10:06- take out trash
10: 10- throw in a load of laundry
10:18- hose off/clean a toy outside

okay so this is where I start losing track of time.

Sometime between about 10:30am and right now (11pm) I've:

Taught Reading, Health, & Bible
made a skirt
cooked dinner
made lunch
washed dishes
took apart and put away the crib *wipes a tear*
did 3 loads of laundry
got groceries (with 3 kids in tow)
took care of groceries
prepared a crock pot meal for tomorrow
got 3 kids ready and tucked into bed
watched an episode of Party of Five
checked out face book

and now.....(drum roll please)......wrote a blog

*sigh* no wonder i'm tired

So what'd you do today?

Wednesday part 2

Well look at me, blogging twice in one day! I just had to write down some silly things my kids were doing today.

Xavier figured out how to make farting noises with his armpit yesterday. So all of today he's been doing it. Well now Gaius is trying. He gets the arm action he just doesn't get that you have to us your other hand to make the noise. Now any normal mother would nip this in the bud, since it is kind of gross. But I've always been intrigued by this talent and have never been able to figure it out. So instead of reprimanding him I've been getting lessons in the art. My mother is going to be horrified.

So my mothering skills may be a little unconventional. But I live for moments like today when Leia came to me and said "mommy, you're the best mommy ever". I think it had more to do with the fact that she was excited to go to the duck pond. But hey I'll take it however i can get it.

P.S. We only saw 1 duck, and it wasn't really a pond. More a lake harbor. I love our area!

Adventures in Homeschooling (Part 1)

We started school yesterday. It went surprisingly smooth, and i got a lot of laundry done! Both major pluses in my life. Today might be a little trickier since Marc won't really be around at all to help keep the little monster out of EVERYTHING (as I write this the monster is emptying the tissue box onto the livingroom floor). I think if I can keep myself organized than hopefully everyday will be fine. Well time to get everyone going. School this morning, visiting the duck pond this afternoon! It should be fun!