DONE #51. Complete Family Mission Statement#52. Design and Frame Family Mission Statement

It's finally done! It feels like I worked on this for ages.

It was an endeavor. I had to find time with Surferman to talk and pray about it... a few times. It required editing and refinement to make it our won. I designed and formatted it; brilliantly deciding on a legal size paper because there just wasn't enough room on letter sized. And then finding out that it's nearly impossible to buy a premade legal sized frame. Resigning to custom framing only to find one lonely but perfect legal sized frame on the shelf.

I pray we can live up to it.
I first read about Family Mission Statements at Simple Mom. It intrigued me and I thought it was a great idea. I presented the idea to Surferman. He saw the effect it could have on our family to have these things written down... for us to be on the same page. I think of it as the sieve that our life needs to pass through. If something contradicts or conflicts with one of these things we hold dear... now written down... in black and white... well... let's just say it's harder for me to over commit and Surferman has become quicker to pray.

If you'd like to see the complete text, let me know in the comments and I'll email you a copy.

10 down... 91 to go.

Not this momma's tattoos

I remember temporary tattoos from when I was a kid. If you were lucky, they were the toy surprise in a box of Cracker Jack. Lick your arm, press the tattoo on and hold still until the ink transfered. They lasted until your next bath - maybe 3 whole days.

Let me tell you, they don't make kid tattoos like they used to. They are more colorful and more detailed. Grom found some in our bathroom cupboard (I have no idea where they came from) and talked Suferman into putting one on. I wanted to get them out of our house so I applied the rest.

Doesn't he look tough, rough and ready for a rumble?

Just wait until you try to get them off... not as easy as the package describes. They would have you believe that a little baby oil and off they come. I don't think so.

We googled and found that a mixture of baby oil and alcohol should remove them. Apply equal amounts liberally to the tattoo. Let sit 30 seconds (or more) and then rub to remove. Surferman scrubbed... I scrubbed and they are mostly off.

No more tattoos for us.

You know you're a mommy when...

a view inside my purse...

Flowers from Grom

We made plans to go to Farmer's Market last Thursday. When Grom learned of our plans he proudly told me that he was going to buy me flowers with his own money.

WOW!

We carefully pulled some dollars out of the bottom of one of his piggy banks and he stuffed them in the pocket of his pants. We had our usual wonderful rib dinner and then walked up the street towards the farmers. Of course we had to stop for Grom to get a cookie. We started looking at booth after booth after booth and we were unable to find flowers.

Grom was really disappointed. I reminded him that it's winter and that a lot of people have snow on the ground like The Snowy Day and that flowers don't really like cold weather. I also told him that we'd be going to Trader Joe's tomorrow and that he could get me some flowers there.

The next day at Farmer's Market. He stops at the flowers and asks me which ones I want. I choose a lovely bouquet and then he says that he wants me to have a different bouquet. So I'm standing in front of the flowers at Trader Joe's arguing with a 4 year old. You never realize how stupid it is arguing with a 4 year old until you are in the throes of it and then it's just a matter of how quickly you can stop the arguement. I told him that it was he who wanted to buy me flowers and that he should just pick out something that he thinks I would like.

Orange Tulips. Genius!

Rules are good.

This morning as Grom and I were getting read for church, he came in and told me about a new rule he was making.

"Don't bomp girls on the bottom unless you know their names"

So that you don't think he came up with this out of no where...

Last week, Grom excitedly bomped (kinda a loving push) one of our high school girls at church. She was great about telling him that it wasn't ok to do such a thing. I reinforced her correction.

Fast forward to today...

I'm trying hard not to laugh, but also feel like his new rule needs some clarification, so I ask him if it would be okay to bomp his favorite Sunday School teacher on the bottom.

He thought for a moment.

"Don't bomp girls on the bottom unless you know their names and they're in your family"

Rules are good.

A Construction Birthday Party

We celebrated Grom's 4th birthday by setting up a construction zone in the front yard and inviting a great crew of workers.

This year Grom wanted 3 year olds invited to his party. He likes to lead and has figured out that younger kids are generally better followers. Good thing his best buddy is 3. I subscribe to the "you can invite the number of kids you are old" guest list idea except that we add "plus one" because someone always seems to be unable to come and when you're little that can be devastating to the festivities. This year our party was an opportunity to invite some kids that we don't know so well.

Surferman was supposed to make another bean bag toss game. It just didn't happen.

I read the book "Trucks at Work"

We had a sandbox and diggers so the workers could dig for treasures from Grom's potty prize basket (one of my many attempts to bribe him to potty train that didn't work).

There was a string maze with a nut that each worker treaded along the route. When the got done they had to find a bolt that their nut fit onto.

Cupcakes (of course) stood in for the traditional birthday cake. I made them to look like rocks and stacked them up in a dump truck for presentation.

I didn't get many pictures. Our guests arrived early and I was a bit pushed from the start. It all worked out and was a very nice afternoon.

Sometimes I'm a fun mom...

Pudding Fingerpainting!

At first Grom thought I'd gone nuts, and then he had a lot of fun.

We did it again when his friend was over. It was more fun the second time because he knew what to expect. I'd do it again.

(Need Something to) Work for Me - Help with Potty Training Frustration

Just after Grom turned 3 last July, he decided he was ready to be potty trained.

He has been pretty good about using the potty.  

YET... he still has at least one accident a day.  Usually pee.  He has a fantastic ability to hold it and will sometimes pee just enough to make a wet spot on his pants.  You'd think this would send him running for a bathroom.  It doesn't.  He'll keep playing until I see the wet spot on his pants and make him go to the bathroom.

Lately he has also been doing #2 in his pants.  He thinks it's funny.  You might think I'm a terrible mom for this, but I started taking him out to the garage and cleaning him up in the deep sink with cold water.  I wanted him to realize that poop in your pants is not fun and that there were some consequences.  While he doesn't like the cold water, it doesn't seem to be a deterrent either.

HELP!  I'm open to any and all ideas.  When I asked Grom what he would do if his little boy kept having accidents, he said he'd give him a spanking.  Cold water maybe, but spanking?  Where did he get that idea?  As many times as I say, "I love doing laundry", it's not true and probably never will be.  

A Mostly Normal Morning or Why I Should be Crazy.

Let me tell you about today.

6:45 a.m. - Surferman tells me to get out of bed.  He's on his way out the door to usher at church.  He knows I need to get moving to get what I need to do done.  I roll to his now cool side of the bed.  I want to be at church by 8 a.m.

7:05 a.m. - I look at the clock and think I really should get out of bed.  I want to be at church by 8 a.m.

7:10 a.m. - I look at the clock and think I really, really should get out of bed.  I want to be at church by 8 a.m.

7:12 a.m. - Bathroom stop.  Kitchen stop.  Ugh!  Surferman didn't have time to make coffee before he left.

7:13 a.m. - Opened Grom's bedroom door to find him sitting on his bed.  He looks at me seriously and says he's not ready for talking.  Then he turns away from me, fold his hands and begins to pray for his "baby" monkey  and then for himself.  He prayed that he would have patience today, that things would go smoothly and we would be blessed by a good day.  Mop my melted heart up off the floor.  I want to be out of the house by 8 a.m.

7:15 a.m. - Grom goes to the bathroom.  I dig through a laundry basket for clean pants for him and gather up his clothes.  After much pushing of the belly button "button" and several "battery" changes - he is finally dressed.  I only get cross 23 times and threaten a spanking once.

7:20 a.m. - Sippy cup of warm milk (Grom is particular and coddled) prepared.  Vitamins placed on the floor so Grom the dog can eat his "treats".  He goes down to my parents apartment to watch some Little Einsteins before church. 

7:23 a.m. - More bathroom time.  Still no coffee.

7:28 a.m. - Get me dressed.  I didn't have to dig through any baskets of clothes.  VICTORY!

7:31 a.m. - Wake up Gigi.  Help her get her support hose on.  Find a Christmas outfit for her to wear to church with my parents.  

7:35 a.m. - Remember I have things to prep for Sunday School.  I stopped teaching Sunday School and now I remember why - the Sunday morning making a big "Jesus Star" to attach to a pool noodle for the kids to follow around the room.  No one has had breakfast yet, but I got the star made and found the necessary baby oil for the craft project.  Aluminum foil is my friend.  I want to be at church by 8 a.m.

7:45 a.m. - Gather stuff up that needs to go to church.  Purse - check.  Big Jesus Star - check.  Laptop computer (I work at church and if I don't take it, I'll need it) - check.  Baby oil - check.  Sweater - check.

7:55 a.m. - Get to my parents room just before Little Einsteins is ending.  Grom gets 2 minute warning.  I want to leave the house by 8 a.m.

7:56 a.m. - Put together a tray for Gigi's breakfast.  At least someone around here is eating breakfast.

7:58 a.m. - Grom walks into the house.  Fight (I won) with him about using the potty before we leave.  Find him a jacket and Momo.  Belt Grom (into his car seat) and bring purse, baby oil, computer bag and Big Jesus Star out to car.  I want to leave the house by 8 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - Pat knees and prepare to blast off as I pull out of the driveway.

8:01 a.m. - Realize that I don't have Grom's bag with change of clothes in case of an accident.  Realize I never had a cup of coffee.  Realize Grom and I didn't get breakfast.

8:02 a.m. - Tell Grom he can't have an accident today.  He tells me we'd better turn around and go get his bag.

8:10 a.m. - Pull into Albertson's.  Bagels for everyone and a VENTI 1/2 caff, upside down, extra Hot Carmel Machiato for me.

Good thing that church doesn't start until 9:30 a.m.

Easy M&M Costume and How To Use Halloween to Spread the Gospel

I know that there a hundred different ways to celebrate, ignore, deal with Halloween as a Christian. Here's what we're doing / have done this year.

For the past few years we have attended a Harvest Costume Party with some other families from church. It's always great fun. Surferman gets into it and loves to wear a costume with Grom. This year we were M&M's. It was an easy costume, comfortable and well received.

Here are our shirts. I found a font that looked the M&M's "m" and expanded it to full size for Surferman and mine's shirts. For Grom, I made the m fill half a page. I printed them out and then cut them out of adhesive backed felt. The felt was less than $1.50/ sheet. We used shirts that we already had. The adhesive on the felt held well and the m can be pulled off when costume season is over.

We have Calvary Kids Club on Wednesday night. Grom is supposed to dress up as a Bible character. I'm going to make him a coat of many colors and he'll be Joseph.

At home we'll be passing out these to any kids who stop by. It's a poem with the Gospel. Redeem the day. Don't let Satan blow out your light - even for just a day.

Works for Me Wednesday - Soothing Red Bums.

I have an announcment. One that Grom will probably hate me for when he's ever old enough to read Mommy's blog.

Grom officially has POTTY POWER!
No more diapers for us!

So in celebration I offer a product review that got us through those seemingly unending diaper days.

Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment.
It smells great.
It works fast.
It cleans up easy.
Ok for cloth diapers (at least I didn't have any problems).
One tube lasts a really long time.

No diapered bottom should be without it.

What do you do...

when your boy decides his Momo needs a bath right before bedtime?


Put him in a protective habitat and let them go to sleep.

Happy Birthday Grom!

Grom, you're 3 today.

I love you more than you can imagine. You have taught me so much about so many things. You have taught me about God. Through you I've learned about God's favor and grace.

In honor of your birthday, here are 3 things I love about you today.

I love your blonde hair and your "big boy" haircut. I hope you keep it you're entire life.

I love your indomitable spirit. You don't waver. I know you'll be a man who stands for his convictions.

I love your laugh and sense of humor. I know you'll be a man who defuses tense situations by cracking a joke.

A Momo Birthday Party

Updated to add photos of games.

Momo is Grom's best buddy. He's the monkey that has always been there for him. He's there when it's dark and time to go to sleep. He's there to play when it's nap time and sleep doesn't come easy. Momo is one great monkey.

It was time to plan Grom's 3rd birthday party. With Grom's fascination with tractors and diggers and Bob the Builder, I thought a Construction party would be all the rage.

I really shouldn't have been surprised when Grom announced that he wanted a Momo birthday party.

Saturday was the day. Gorgeous weather. Grom's little friends arrived (2 little boys and an older sister) and tons of adults.

We played games. Surferman made a great Banana Bean Bag Toss Game. Momo (that rascally monkey) hid and left photo clues for Grom and his buddies to find him.


We had pizza (with coupons from Costco), green salad, fruit salad AND Momo Cupcakes.

Summer Cupcake Caper - Momo cupcakes

The timing is perfect.

Grom's birthday is the 23rd and this contest deadline is the 25th.

I'm in!

GiBee at Kisses of Sunshine is hosting a Cupcake Contest. I'm the queen of the birthday cupcake. So here's my entry.

Momo (Monkey) Cupcakes

Chocolate Banana Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 package Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup water
3 eggs

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F
Place paper liners in 24 cupcake holes
Mix cake mix, mashed bananas, oil, water and eggs with electic mixer on low until ingredients are incorporated.
Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 more minutes.
Add chocolate chips.
Mix on low until chips are incorporated.
Scoop cake mix into cupcake wrappers dividing batter between the 24 cups.
Bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cupcakes cool before frosting and decorating.

Versatile White Icing
Ingredients
1 16oz bag powdered sugar
1 cup shortening
3 T corn syrup
2 T water
1 t real vanilla extract

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a large mixing box with an electric mixer on low until incorporated.
Increase speed to high and beat 5 minutes until fluffy.

Momo Cupcakes
Ingredients
24 Chocolate Banana Cupcakes
1 batch Versatile White Icing
24 Nilla Wafers
48 Mini-Nilla Wafers
24 Blue Froot Loops (or similar) cereal - cut in half
1 tube Black Icing
1 can purple Color Mist
1 can yellow Color Mist

Directions
Cut straight edges off large Nilla wafers from 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock and from 12 o'clock to 11 o'clock.
Cut edge off Mini-Nilla wafer to make a 3/4" straight side.
Place cookies on paper towel lined cookie sheet.
Spray cookies with yellow Color Mist.
Frost cupcakes with icing.
Spray cupcakes with purple Color Mist.
Arrange cookies to form the mouth and eyes of monkey.
Push cereal rings into side of cupcakes for ears.
Add eyes and mouth with black icing.


Here's the final cupcakes with their namesake - the famous Momo!


Grom loved them. They were a huge hit.

Online with Grom

I came across a great site to play at with Grom. Build a Neighborhood -It's from Mister Roger's Neighborhood. It's computer game where you drop and drag different items onto scenes to make your own neighborhood. Today we played with the farm and the construction site neighborhoods.

I worked the mouse while Grom told me where everything should be placed. On the farm he put the cow on the roof of the house to keep it out of the vegetables (of course!). We printed a couple of the scenes and he was so proud to show them around.

Have fun!

I'll try to see if I can post some of our neighborhoods later this week.

ARsh Msick

Grom has always been very fond of music. His tastes differ from mine. It's hard to get him to let me play my music. It's worse when I try to sing (but that's another topic).

He favors "world music". I think that's how it would be classified. As a baby it was African Playground. He also has a great world music lullaby CD (I'm bummed that I can't find a link). He likes reggae, Christifari's Reggae Sunday School rocks.

But his favorite is ARsh Msick. He has CDs from an Irish Music Festival in Ireland. They were brought to us by friends from Ireland and I hate to admit that they are bootlegs. I'd buy them if I had any idea of what they are and where to find them. He listens to them ALL the time - over and over and over.

We were excited when we found out that there was a local group of musicians who gather weekly to play Irish music. Surferman and I try to get Grom there once a month. It's fun, but has it's awkard and strange moments.

1st - The place they play is basically a bar. They serve food and it's not a "21 and over" labeled place, it's a brew pub. I'm ok with it because the crowd is very un-bar-like. There are other kids and I've never encountered anyone who has had too much. I have no idea what the place is like when the Irish musicians aren't there.

2nd - Their food is puzzling bad. Tonight they had 3 things on the menu: Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl, Beef French Dip Sandwich, Turkey French Dip Sandwich. The chowder was served with a side of potato salad??? The dip sandwiches were served on croissants???? The pub draws quite a crowd when the musicians are there. I would think that they would want to take advantage of the crowd and serve a bunch of food.

We think the restaurant sold a while back and have noticed that the new owners are making some changes. Tonight they moved out the pool table while we were sitting there. They've built a good sized stage, but Irish musicians don't typically play on a stage so they were crowded onto the floor with the patrons. We'll see how it all turns out.

And I guess in the end...it doesn't matter... Grom sits there enthralled. Watching the guitar players, the flautist, the drummers, the fiddlers and asking me about the stringed instruments that I don't know the names of. We clap when the songs end. He smiles when he puts the money in their tip jug.

A night out at ARsh Msick is always a strange good night

Works For Me Wednesday : The Mom-I'm-Bored Edition

This weeks Works for Me Wednesday is themed. Welcome to the Mom-I'm-Bored Edition.

Here's my problem... I have an almost 3 year old. He's never bored. I don't think he's heard the word or know what it means or even knows the feeling. For him there is ALWAYS something fun to do. Yesterday, Grom spent 45 minutes cleaning "the mud" out of the bottom of his and Surferman's toothbrush holder. Notice that my toothbrush was no where near said "muddy" holder.

So, check back with me in a year or two... I'm sure I'll be full of great ideas. Right now, I'm busy cleaning up from all the fun.

Go to Rocks In My Dryer to get some ideas of what to do with those bored kids.

Or send them to my house to clean up after a fun, adventurous, and very messy Grom or a really grody toothbrush holder.

A Great Sunday Afternoon

Works for Me Wednesday - Less Germy Birthdays

Works for Me Wednesday, hosted by Rocks In My Dryer is all about birthdays this week.

I don't have a lot of experience with kids birthdays yet. We are just starting to plan Grom's 3rd.

Moms spend their days getting kids to wash their hands, cover their mouths when they cough and keeping them quarantined from the sick child next door. AND THEN... they go to birthday parties where some snot nosed kid spits blows all over the cake right before serving.

I'm not a hypochondriac. I'm not hyper about germs. But this time tested tradition grosses me out.

Here's what works for me... CUPCAKES!

Family Fun has a lot of ideas for different cupcakes. With just a little creativity you can create a cupcake to fit the theme of your party.

Here's the cake I made for Grom's 2nd birthday. I frosted the cupcakes with canned whipped cream (to cut the sugar a bit). The spots are mini m n' m's. The legs are pretzel sticks and the shoes are half circus peanuts.

The best part... Grom only contaminated his own cupcake. Works for me.