i'm so NOT hot

You may have noticed I've been absent.  Sam, Sydney and I accompanied Tad on a business trip and made a stop at a water park!  Talk about heaven for Samuel!  Pictures and details on that to come.

For now I'll share a funny story that happened the morning of our departure.

I was driving on a road I rarely drive coming home from dropping our dog off at the kennel, which by the way is more like doggie paradise than kennel club.  Suddenly I notice this guy checking me out.  But he was more than checking me out.  He was watching my car's every move.  Now, normally I'm a VERY modest person in my opinion.  But I must have been in a good mood excited for our trip and feeling extra confident that day as I thought to myself:  "Damn, I'm good.  I can turn a head today with 2 kids in the back seat!"... and then... I see the flashing lights through my rear view mirror.  A cop.  Turns out I'm not all that hot and that guy was simply watching a ditzy lady not notice a cop trying to pull her over.

All is well that ends well though... I guess I was at least looking good enough to just get off on a warning.  And for what it's worth, I was being honest when I told the police officer I thought the speed limit was 40 (I guess it was 30.  oops!).

And shhhh... don't tell Tad.  He doesn't know this story. :)  But Samuel knows I got pulled over so it's only a matter of time before everyone else does too so I might as well let my family and friends get a good laugh out of it.  Tad will get a good laugh too, and then promptly tell me to drive more carefully!

getting organized

I have so many things on my "to-do" list but yet I seem to struggle just keeping up with daily life. I thought staying home with the kids would also give me an opportunity to do all the projects I've been putting off (scrapbooking, finishing the decorating touches on Sydney's room, touch up painting, etc.).  Yet my day is plenty busy getting kids clothed, fed, napped, fed, exercised and mentally stimulated (if I'm lucky), napped, fed, bathed, and to bed.  And of course they rarely sleep at the same time so there is no such thing as a lunch break for mama!  

Today I did manage to check one minor thing off the to-do list while Tad kept Samuel entertained swimming in the lake.  Boy was I jealous of their fun, but if felt good to get something done.  

It seems I consistently forget things at the grocery store.  So I decided to do what perhaps many others already do:  I created a standing grocery list of items our family buys.  The food is listed in order of location in my grocery store, which I'm hoping will help save me time on my trip.  I have a comments section next to each item for further clarification if needed.  I found many grocery checklists on the web but since they listed off practically everything a grocery store sells they were 4+ pages long.  This list is 2 pages long (1 page if you print front and back).  Here is a screenshot of a portion of the list.

I plan to put this list on my fridge and check things off as I notice they are needed.  If I want to get really crazy, I'll highlight any items for which I have a coupon.  :)  

I used this on my shopping trip tonight and I didn't forget one single thing!  The only problem:  I spent $50 more than usual (though I did stock up on items we typically are not out of).  But I saved gas money as I think I avoided the repeat trips I typically have to make for forgotten items.

Here is a link to download it if anyone is interested; You could customize the excel doc to include items you frequently buy.  I apologize as some of the check boxes are really messed up (there are many on top of each other but you can't tell until you start to delete them).  I just don't have time to fix it right now.

P.S.  I created this on a Mac but it should work on a PC as long as my formatting works in your excel version.

more on potty training

Samuel continues to do great with potty training!  But it hasn't been without it's challenges.  I told him it's his job to know when he has to go, so I try not to give him reminders, and he's good about going.  However, I do insist he go at certain times during the day (before sleep and after waking, for example) and Mr. Independent is often not willing to go when it's at the suggestion of others.  The problem is, if he doesn't go just after waking, he tends to wait until it's an emergency and if he then has a tantrum or a time-out, that's when the rare accident will occur.  Since I can't force the kid on the potty, I went to the potty pros for more info.  I stumbled upon a couple good resources that I thought I'd pass along.

1.  The When and Hows of Potty Training by Dr. Greene

2.  Potty Training Concepts

Even if you aren't a fan of the methods introduced on this site, you will find other useful tools.  Lots of potty paraphernalia is available here.  I personally was excited to find the printable potty charts.  I'm using a potty chart to give Sam a sticker every time he goes potty (and washes his hands, another challenge!) both on his own and when I ask him to.  After 4 successful days of going potty when asked he'll get to pick out a toy at Target.  I'm hoping it won't take long for going potty after waking to just become a habit that I don't have to enforce.

Narmin Parpia, author of "Potty Training in One Day - A Guide for Today's Parents", is the potty training expert on this site.  I think the "one day training" method was first widely introduced by Dr. Phil and similar methods were later written by authors such as Teri Crane in "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day".

3.  Potty Training Solutions

Another spot to purchase PT products.  Here is a wider selection of potty seats, etc.  

I can not believe how many products are out there centered around PTing!  I personally had a little chuckle at the following products.

And this one may be a good idea, who knows.  But I couldn't resist posting this product since their motto is, "Where our aim is to improve his."

out of the mouth of sam

More from our 2.5 year old Samuel:

Whenever I do something that inadvertently hurts Sam (e.g. take off a band-aid) he says, "Don't do that Mommy!  I'm delicate!"

And just this morning:  "You a good boy Mommy", as he pats my head like a dog.  To this I say, "I'm a girl."  And his response (with a sneaky smile this time), "You a good boy, Mommy."  *sigh*

Our Sam sure is a character and keeps us on our toes with his antics and smart come-backs.  It sure is a good thing he's cute and is constantly putting a smile on my face because we have been having many challenging times lately when I wonder if he needs a trip to the dentist for that special "sedative drink" that Shannon refers to in a recent post of hers.

pyrex lids

Did you see today's safemama post?

Pyrex lids are BPA free!  I've been wondering, as we have a lot of pyrex.  But I haven't taken the time to research it myself.  Thanks for the continual great research safemama!  LUV that site!

Tricia

what's for dinner?

What's for dinner?  We're having my all time FAVORITE pork loin recipe on the grill.  I love pork but it's hard to find the right recipe that doesn't dry it out.  My brother says the secret is to grill pork in aluminum foil, though I've never tried it.  I usually have great luck with this recipe linked here.  By the way, you'd never guess by tasting that a primary ingredient is ketchup!  And since I don't have cider vinegar lying around I've substituted with rice vinegar with no problems.

And then for dessert we're having grilled bananas with cool whip.  YUM!  Check out that blog, I really like it!

If you have a favorite cooking site/blog let me know.  I usually rely on allrecipes.com and kraftfoods.com.

Hope you are having a great start to your week.  Time to get a cookin'...

Tricia

kids say the darndest things...

Sam:  "Are you old mommy?"

Me:  "I don't know; do you think I'm old Sam?"

Sam:  "Yes.  Let me get my doctor kit.  I'll help you."

Sam:  Picks up a stick and says, "This is my sword!  I'm protectin' you!"

Me:  As I'm trying to discourage sword-playing (though I think it's inevitable anyway), I say, "That's not a sword Sam".

Sam:  "You right.  It's an ice-cream thrower.  POW!  (as he waves it violently) You have ice cream on you!"

Me:  "Mmmm.  That tastes good."

Sam:  "It's not on your mouth, Mommy!!!!  It's on your clothes."

Sam:  "You a good Mom, Mommy.  But just knock it off and settle down!"

Me: ....... knowing exactly where he's heard that one from .......