Let me spell it out for you

(for the four kids between 3 and 8)

We are going on a

to

and a family reunion!

I may or may not have scheduled a WFMW post while I'm gone.   Follow me to get updates in your reader and you'll know when I'm back!  (probably mid-August)

See ya folks!

Pass the bon-bons please

I'm not sure if I've blogged this before (and I don't really care to look through 700 posts to find out), but a friend of mine's father is known around here for saying, "The magic number of kids (referring to easiness level) is one less than what you have."

Tonight is Pack meeting.  Danny is the Cubmaster and Pookie, being a cubscout, went with him.  And Hammy, being the mini-Pookie-in-training/Daddy-cling-on, went along too.

Can I just say, life is so easy with just four and a half kids?  Especially with my two, um... "spirited" ones being away for a few hours, life is so smooth and easy. 

I've vacuumed out the van (realizing that we eat way too many French fries and Cheerios), washed carseats and their cloth covers, rearranged seating in the van, washed laundry, and caught up on blogs in my reader. 

Now I sit, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for comments.  Or I guess I could pack the clothes for the trip . . .

Family Vacation Prep

Next week we are going on a super fun family vacation!  We will be traveling 800 miles to our first ever family reunion for my side of the family.  That's my parents, my siblings, and our kids. 

But before we go to the family reunion, we are taking the kids to Sea World. 

Some necessities for going on vacation with 6 and a half kids under 8 1/2?  Zoloft.  And lots of it.  Just kidding!

I started my list:

Water.


Playpens.


diapers.

Music, not just this kind.


Games.

Magna Doodles.

Audio Books to listen to.

Pre-rationed snacks in ziploc bags.

I referred to this awesome post, about driving with kids, from Kristen at We are THAT Family.  I've referred to her post multiple times during my preparation.

Yesterday, after we went bowling for Bun's birthday, we went to the library to look for books on CD and tape for Danny and me to listen to on the trip to help us stay awake.  Then we decided that it might be fun for the kids to listen to books also.

I asked a library employee where I could locate the children's audio books.  I was directed to a section labeled "Playaways." 

He said, "You can check the battery right here to make sure it's working and just plug it in to any headset."

I was like, "Oh, okay."  Hmm... I'll just ask Danny what these new-fangled contraptions are and what kind of music player they go in.  He's pretty up-to-date on that sort of thing.

The library employee continued to explain how handy these "Playaways" are for travel on planes and car trips, etc. 

So, I finally just said, "What do these plug into again?"

He said, "Any earphones or headset should plug right into it.  You just press 'play' to play or pause, this button forwards to the next track, you can speed up the book to play it fast..." he continued.

Then I forgot to use my library voice.

"Danny!  Check this out!  All you have to do is plug in headphones and listen!  Isn't that amazing?!  We should checkout a bunch!"

We checked out ten books on playaways and this one of gross and silly songs.  They sell these new-fangled thingamajigs on Amazon and probably other places too.  But check your library-- that's the frugal thing to do!

 The employee told me that these things are often sent with troops going overseas.  They are also great for when you're jogging and that they're virtually indestructible so you can hand them over to your kids to use.

That's good.  Because I bought four new kid-head-size headphones for the trip.  I expect peaceful driving. 

Twins and Time-outs

The corner by our front door is for time-outs. Everyone knows you're not allowed to play with anything in time-out. You're not supposed to talk either. The only thing you're allowed is to read your scriptures. Recently, the twins have decided it's great fun to climb on and play with the time-out detainee.

 

Pookie and the time-out buddies

Squdge is asleep on left while Tater (on right) eats Squdge's food even though he too is falling asleep.  This is a common sight in our home.  The food is always better on the other tray.

What's better than a scooter and a Lego Star Wars hat?

The candy bar poster!

An easy birthday present for children from 5-95 is a candy bar poster.  For just a few dollars, a sharpie, and a hot glue gun you can create memories for your birthday boy that he'll never forget.  And who doesn't love candy?

Tomorrow is Bun's fifth birthday.  It was originally going to be a big friend birthday, but I kinda got pregnant and sidetracked.  And he doesn't remember, so shhh.  We're going bowling.  And yes, we don't normally have big friend birthdays at five.  We have them at 4, 8, 12, and 16.  But I was hospitalized with twins on his fourth birthday.  Poor kid.

In case this picture doesn't get bigger when you click on it, here's what the poster says:

Dear Bun,

Just be-TWIX you and me, I hope you have GOBS of fun on your birthday!  I just know you'll SKOR big with WATCHAMACALIT?  oh yeah, BOWLING!  The REISEN I wanted to tell you to ignore the NERDS, is because you are worth more than 100 GRAND!  Just some friendly advice from a couple of LIFESAVERS. 

Love Always,         

Mommy and Baby Ruth 

Cheap, easy, and memorable works for me!

Do you REALLY want to know?

Yesterday morning I awoke to a soaking wet Hammy sweetly saying, "Mommy, I potty my bwankie."

This morning I was sleeping on the couch with a twin that decided he was hungry at 5:55 a.m.  I fell back asleep after changing both babies, giving one a bottle, and putting on the show, Baby Neptune.  Then Hammy calls me out from my slumber, "MOMMY!!!!! Get da POOP off of meee!!"

So, how is the training going you ask? 

grrr.

He has nighttime accidents 6 out of 7 days a week.

He potties in the toilet consistently.

He poops in his pants consistently.

The good news is we've only used 252 diapers in the past three weeks.

If you feel a sneeze coming,

and you're 21 weeks pregnant with your seventh child, make sure you're not sitting cross-legged on the floor. If you forget to quickly hop up and take a defensive-stance, well, don't forget the next time. And if by chance, the next one sneaks up on you, well, be grateful you have a denim skirt that soaked up any incidental leakage.

My eyes have been itching since Saturday evening.  I woke up sneezing and sneezing.  I've been congested all week with these itchy eyes and constant sneezing. 

 

I love our new home.  But the trees here (a whole mile away from our moldy old home) are driving my allergies bonkers. 

Reading to kids

Once upon a time, when I was expecting my third child (so before the birth of this blog), I used to read to my son and daughter one hour every day. Minimum.

Gabbers was just a year and a half at the time with a very short attention span. Mostly she was interested in eating the books. It was difficult to get through a book with her before she’d pull it out of my hands.

Reading time usually ended up being with just my three year old Pookie on my lap, or rather the side of my lap, and reading book after book after book, while Gabbers had usually hopped down at that point and was crawling around seeking and destroying and eating books.

Our home is filled with books. Before Pookie was born, I joined a book club to get him all the classic Dr. Seuss books.  One of the books we got from the hospital in our goodie bag when he was born was called, Read to Me by Jackie Leavitt (Governor Mike Leavitt's wife).  I got the message.  Reading to my child is important.  I still have that book memorized.  It has long since fallen apart from having read it several times per week through the first three kids.

Before Pookie had a single toy, he had a dozen books.

I started reading to him at less than a few weeks old. I was frustrated when he’d fall asleep while I read to him. I read him board books and Dr. Seuss books every day. And the last book of each reading session was a chapter of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web.

Did you know that children younger than fourth grade have an amazing ability to memorize?

Take advantage of it.

I found that when I read to my oldest and spent just a little time every day helping him memorize things like his planets, U.S. presidents, 50 states and capitals, scriptures, pledge of allegiance, etc, he had less tantrums and oodles of confidence.

I am particularly excited today because our school supplies just arrived. I’m jumping into full-time homeschooling again. Well, as soon as I figure out where to put all these new books. I can’t wait for the look on Pookie’s face when he comes in from the playground and sees what arrived.

*I am an Amazon Associate and receive a 4% referral reward for any purchases made through these direct links.
This post is linked to WFMW at We are THAT family.

Magic has its limits too, you know.

Pookie, with a fleece throw blanket draped over his shoulders, declared to Danny and me (as we were sitting on the living room floor changing diapers),

"I am a magical wizard!"

Danny said, "Oh good.  Why don't you use your magic powers to clean up this room?"

"I can't do that.  But I can disappear!"

And he did.

To read more Kiddie Kwips, you can always click the tab underneath the header that says Kiddie Kwips.  To read them now, just click this link.

The results are in . . .

The contractions stopped.

I napped in the most uncomfortable ER bed in existence for close to 2 hours.  The first hour I was there, the ER department and Labor and Delivery department argued about whose patient I was.  I felt oh-so-loved.

The OB doctor on call recommended I go home on bedrest for a couple of days and drink boatloads of water.  In a couple of days my pregnancy will be considered "viable."

On to more exciting pregnancy news, tomorrow is the big ultrasound!  I'm thinking pink. 

Renewing my season pass to the ER.

I'm headed to the ER in a few minutes here (after I shower, that is).  I'm having contractions 5 minutes apart.  Since I'm only 19 weeks and 5 days, they won't see me in Labor and Delivery yet.  Maybe I should've fibbed about my due date 2 days . . .

I hate going to the ER.  I have no fear of doctors or needles really.  I just don't like frittering away three hours of my life. 

Please pray for the baby that she *crossing fingers it's a girl* hangs in there and this all calms down.  Maybe it was the Thai food.   mmm.... garlic. 

I am no longer under your control.

So, um, we let our kids watch movies and pre-recorded approved television shows via Netflix.  But there are a few, that when we have particularly inconsolable littles, we pull out.  Baby Einstein is up there among the "soothing movies" choices.  And for these occasions, we turn on the DVD player and put the DVD in. 

And then... instant show.      not.

We watch FBI warnings and what-not.

We pick from the next screen to watch it in English.

And then we'll suffer through watch the reviews and testimonials from the other happy parents that have purchased and viewed the DVDs.

We watch the previews that cannot be fast-forwarded.

The screaming continues as the show is still not ready to watch and work its magic.

 

Then we pick something like "theater" or "wide-screen" or whatever crap annoying thing that is keeping me from the actual show.

Then we finally get to the screen that says PLAY or PLAY ALL or REPEAT PLAY.

And . . . breathe (I know you're worked up to at this point) . . . we watch the show.

I have three simple words for you to memorize that will change all this.  It will get you directly to the "PLAY" screen or menu screen.

Ready?

Stop.  Stop.  Play.

 

You got that?  Next time you pop in a DVD and it starts up, press STOP.  STOP (again).  and then PLAY.

You can show your thanks by becoming my Follower.  No donations are necessary. 

TTFN.

This post is linked to WFMW and Tuesday's Tip Jar.




Psst.  Baby Galileo is our favorite one.  It's soothing and educational and has classical music throughout.  Well, they're all pretty much filled with classical music and have some level of education.  But we ♥ Baby Galileo.

*I am an Amazon Associate and will receive a 4% referral reward when you buy through this link.

Look what twins can do while you're potty-training!

This is the reality of potty-training your Gremlin when you have 10 1/2 month old twins.

reorganized pan cupboards,

rearranging dining chairs, library books,

decorating with Cheerios and eating the underside of Hammy's yogurt cup

(while he's on the potty),

a little break for scrapbooking,

back to work organizing the Tupperware cupboard,

finishing off with a good supply of Kleenex.

Rest assured both the dining room and the kitchen floors are clean.  All Cheerios partaken of mid-chaos are not tainted.  As I've said before, my favorite thing about potty-training is freshly mopped floors. 

All aboard the potty-train!

Potty-training supplies

• potty-chair or toilet

*I don't like the child-size potty seats that fit on the toilet-- my kids just pee all over them and it makes one more thing I have to clean.*

• several pairs of cloth training pants preferably a size larger than the child would normally wear
• several pairs of big boy underwear
• plastic pants to go over the cloth training pants at night or on outings
• wipes for solid accidents

• a salty treat like Cheetos to make the child thirsty
• an enticing sweet drink like Kool-aid (the child doesn't normally get) to get him to drink A LOT
• 1 Skittle for going potty in the toilet or potty chair (not pictured)
• 1 bag of fruit snacks for going poop

During the first day of potty-training it is very important they learn the rules, how-tos, the mechanics, AND that they have several successes BEFORE any accidents.

 

A very good book to read to prepare you before the training begins is Toilet Training in less than a day.  It's an easy encouraging read and fairly inexpensive.  I also recommend you read it before picking out a potty-chair (if you haven't done so already).  They have some very good points about it.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
*I am an Amazon Associate and will receive a 4% referral reward when you buy this book through my link. 

But even if you don't use my link, check it out at your library and prepare yourself for the big day (the frugal zealot in my refuses to remain quiet). 

I had no idea you could buy training pants on Amazon too!  I found mine at Wal-Mart.

I will be updating our progress with potty-training the Gremlin.

Reading about the following activity may result in unexpected anxiety and appetite changes.

I like long post titles lately.  Can you tell?

I did some shopping today after a very unpleasant visit to the dentist.  So unpleasant infact, that it required I take a lovely relaxing stroll through Wal-Mart.  You know, retail therapy.

As I was walking through Wal-Mart (feeling particularly unburdened shopping all by myself) perusing the prices of Luvs' diapers and such, I came up with an activity for the next few weeks (hopefully not longer).

These are the supplies.  Can you guess?  Do you want to play too?

Dear Blogger, grumble grumble grumble

I have no idea how to submit a complaint to blogger, so I'm submitting it to you!

I am not deleting your comments.  And I actually read every one of them.  I get them emailed to me when I get a new comment.  So even if you comment on a very old post, I'll know!

But Blogger is eating comments and also not letting other people comment.  And it's very frustrating!

A couple blogs I follow have not been showing me the comment button.  I can't find it at all to leave a comment when I've really REALLY wanted to!

And just now, it showed that I had no followers at all!  Okay, I know I have 67 and I am very aware and happy for each and every one of you.  I feel like someone listens to me when I post.  :)

Now for more interesting reading, see my previous posts.  Thank you for listening and have a nice day!

I have a brand-new FAVORITE summer treat.

The ingredients?  Frozen blueberries and milk.  Did you get that?  Go ahead, jot it down.  I got the idea from this post from That Girl at Pensievity.  And I thought hmm, that could be good.  I have to give her MUCHO THANKS and a big shout out!  Stop by her blog and stay a little while.  You'll fall in love with her and her family. 

picture from here

So the perfect summertime treat?  Breakfast, snacktime, lunchtime, after-the-children-have-gone-to-bed-and-you're-watching-a-movie-time:  frozen blueberries and milk.  I'm hooked.  I had three mugs of frozen blueberries doused in milk yesterday.  No extra sugar.  Nothing else.  Just blueberries and milk.  I'd take a picture but that would keep me from eating it.  I'm too impatient.  I'm trying to grow a baby here!

I'd love it if you shared YOUR favorite go-to food with me.  It may be "same ole same ole" to you.  But it might be new to me. 

This post is linked to Tuesday's Tips, Tuesday's Tip Jar, and WFMW.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies (to soften bullies hearts)

As promised in this post, here is an AWESOME chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I forgot to mention that it makes soft cookies-- not crunchy ones. 

Yields 2 1/2 dozen (unless your Danny snitches cookie dough)

Ingredients
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
3 C. BREAD flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C. sugar
1 1/4 C. brown sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a saucepan. 
2. Cream melted butter and sugars in a large bowl or mixer. 
3. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and continue mixing.
4. In a separate bowl, mix bread flour, baking soda and salt.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.

 *Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for a few hours (or even overnight).*

1. Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Using a small scoop form 6 cookies on the pan. 
3. Bake for about 14 minutes (check after the 10 minute point).  The cookies should be pretty big.

Nikki's notes:  I like to bake for about 8-10 minutes (depending on size) and leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transfering to the cooling rack.

They freeze well.  You just can't let anyone know you froze them.  Or they'll eat them frozen.  I know these things.  Trust me.

You can also freeze the dough before baking.  A super-easy way to get uniform size cookies from frozen dough is to roll it up in wax paper and freeze.  Then when it's baking time just slice them. 

I like to use my Pampered Chef stainless steel scoops and flash freeze scoopfuls on the cookie sheet.  When they're completely frozen, dump in a prelabeled freezer-safe bag. 

If you needed 510 diapers a month...

 would you rather pay for disposables or wash that many cloth diapers?

And let's pretend, just for fun, that that 510 diapers might go down to 360 diapers for a few months (if your Hammy potty-trains) before going up to a probable 720 diapers a month (newborns poop a lot you know).

And so, now that I'm done rambling on such a random probably-doesn't-apply-to-TOO-many-people point, I'll switch the laundry while you comment and vote on my poll on my left sidebar.  Or eat hot dogs and watch fireworks.  You pick. 

Happy Independence Day!






P.S.  I also have a poll on the right sidebar guessing if it's a boy or girl.