Twitter Parties

Ok, I personally can't get the hang of these twitter parties, i haven't quite gotten the hang of twitter honestly.
But I do want to give a heads up to those who are entering these parties and blog contests.
Make sure your names MATCH!

I missed out on the Phil and Teds Smart stroller, because I spelled my twitter name wrong,and had won the stroller through the posting on the blog comments. She posted my Blogger name but that of course didnt match my twitter name, and with that said, I had also misspelled my twitter name. Really I don't write my twitter name that often, and things have all sorts of different requirements.

While I was pretty bummed about the stroller, I'm now aware of what I did wrong, and will be making a new twitter name just to fix this issue in the event it ever happens again.
When I saw my name posted, I was so excited because the Smart Stroller looks so awesome, and I had always wanted a stroller that had the bassinet for my little ones, but of course. I only have so long left with one of those strollers. My baby girl will be 7 weeks old tomorrow.

So keep this advice, make sure your names all match, just so there is no mistaking it.

I just want to see good things happen to good people!

My title really explains my entire rant this morning.
Why is it that people who make choices to hurt people, on purpose, seeks out to take advantage and such, get everything handed to them but those who work hard, and are genuinely good people, get nothing. I watched this happen when my husband was in the Navy, people skate by, buy my husband, who worked hard, had a much harder time. Thankfully, the worst that could have happened, never did happen, but it doesn't mean it was an easy ride for him. The events that did happen were the biggest reason I was happy to be done being military. That and the fact that my husband could have been sent on more than just a 6 month deployment.
I just want to see good things happen to those who deserve those good things. I'm tired of seeing the latter.

Advertising directly to our children

It amazes me how advertisers find ways to advertise services and products. Yesterday my son came home from school, and immediately told me that he wanted to do gymnastics classes. In his folder was a flyer for it. Now this isn't the first advertising that has gone through this school. PTA has done it as well. And yes, I realize I am on the board. Now the advertising we allowed, I wasn't exactly thrilled with. Now the gymnastics school, would have been a much better advertising in my opinion. What we did, was insurance, parents don't want to be pitched to about insurance.
However they did advertise it to them, it got him excited about something, but the school does not have an introductory class to offer, and I certainly am not enrolling a 6 year old who can't make up his mind on what he'd like to do through the summer a pay an arm and a leg for him to do this and hate it. So this school did lose our business and another school may get it in the event that it works out. I have all three of my boys signed up for a free introductory class next week at the Little Gym.
I'm excited to watch them, if anything to get an idea of what might interest them. I know my middle son really wants to do soccer, but sign ups have passed so he doesnt get to do it until Fall.

I am still looking into swim lessons for them as well. I'm almost afraid to put them in lessons just because I think they'll forget it all after. My oldest had swimming down when he was 18 months old. We swam nearly everyday the spring/summer of 05, well until Katrina hit. He used to jump in with (no floaties) although we made him wear it. I was actually able to swim without having a child clinging to me.
Now that is one thing he is always excited about, swimming.
But its just a matter of if he'd like to actually go further than just learning how to swim (again).

What do you do for the summer? I have gotten so used to the oldest two going to school, it will be a little odd not to have to take them and drop them off at school.

Pirate party!

In just over a week my middle son will turn 4! Hopefully with the new age comes a new attitude as well. We are having his birthday party on the actual day and he chose to do a pirate theme. I have been working on this party for nearly two months coming up with ideas for it. I beleieve I have everything at this point. We will have a treasure hunt. And we will do a craft with the swords which each kiddo will get to take home. I was planning to make thr loot bags out of fabric to resemble thr loot sacks however I still can't find thr bobbin cover for my machine so I can't make them. I am planning to make snacks for yhe party. And I am hoping my sister will Be able to help me with thr cake. She made my oldest sons last year. I found a Melissa and Doug treasure chest which will be what I will hide the beads and treasure in. Living in New Orleans came in handy this year I will be filling the box with everything from there. I also found pirate telescopes from Oriental trading. I will make a pirate punch and I am hoping I can get some big boxes like fridge boxes so I can make a cardboard ship out of it. Overall I hope my son has a great fourth birthday. Aside from adult birthdays my next one is my oldest sons party. I am already trying to figure out what i can use for his party. His will be a mad scientist party and again I hope my sister can come help as she is better at these experiments than I am. He will be in 1st grAde and Im hoping maybe it might help him enjoy school a little more if he sees how much fun he caN have learning. Then we have littlest mans birthday and he will turn two. For his 1st birthday I did a winter wonderland theme. And then little miss willturn one! Wow I hope thr year goes by quick!

Old habits die hard!

Life is getting back to a sense of normalcy. Having for children has changed it especially when it comes to how tired I am and how quickly that it comes out. Life was doing ok while I was pregnant well as ok as it could be with all of my complaining about still being pregnant. Four kids is alot. But really life is only as easy as your kids make it for you. Right now my two oldest sons are in a phase. Not the leave me alone I'm goingto be in my room listening to depressing music or talking on the phone with a girl I like. Believe me I welcome those phases at this point. Instead at the ripe youngag of 6 in a half my oldest son is telling us he wants to be adopted by someone else. This was something my son who I really feel is to old for his actual age, has said things like this since he was two! Yes I specifically rmember one day when we were visiting my parents he told me in the car by walgreens on the corner of southside blvd and Atlantic that he wanted new parents! Ugh! He didn't even have a brother at this age! I don't even think I was pregnant with my second son yet. It's really hard to get through to him. He also hates going to school and he is in kindergarten. Isn't there something wrong with that one!?

And then we have the second oldest, he is in that phase where he is whining, and lying when he does things like pooping in his pants on accident. Plus he tells us his brother bit him but he didn't. Life is just easy peasy! We won't get into the last two who still need mommy constantly.
And then there's me. I feel like everything is rushing back. I am starting to think about the past all over again. I feel like I'm redoing alot of those things. And no matter how hard I try to break away from thr same old habits. They creep right back in. I feel like I keep shutting down and there isn't anyone to talk to. I've had a hard time explaining how I've been feeling to my husband. Overall I feel exhausted again. I would like to blame it on post partum depression but I don't think it's that. I think it's just old habits coming back. I mean seriously could I have been having post partum depression for the last ten years? I am even having trouble explaining my feelings on Here. I know some of it has to be from the fact that I have four little ones to start but I have always been proud of how icould handle my children. And now I doubt myself as a mom sometimes. I don't believe I'm super woman but I always believed that my strength to keep them all safe and sound came from my love for them. I don't love them any less than I ever had before. In fact I think it's the opposite that I added another little one to love and protect with everything I have.

I also have this hope of my family moving closer to us. I miss having them around. I miss having someone to go to the mall with even if I don't buy clothes. I miss having my mom around to talk to. To talk about my dreams with. I haven't even thought about my" dreams"

What are you doing this summer?

For us, we don't have anything planned just yet. I'm looking into things to take the boys to, and of course my little girl will be tagging along for the fun ride. We missed all the sports sign ups for the oldest two, and so I think it would be a great idea to post these camps as they're still accepting registration for the camps.
Now this is copied word for word, as I don't personally have any experience with these camps so I can't give any personal insight on it. I think the CampAsia sounds awesome. I would love for my oldest son to learn about Asian culture, and the cuisine would be great for him, he LOVES Chinese food. But I am a quarter Japanese, so that could have something to do with it.
if you never met children who eat Sushi, you must come to our house when we have it. My husband and I specifically hide getting Sushi from our kids just so we don't have to share every single time. Too bad they can smell it from a mile away it seems. So don't forget to get ready for the summer keeping busy. I know if I don't plan something, mine will want to watch tv all day!


The Crow Collection of Asian Art presents

CAMPASIA: SUMMER CAMP FOR KIDS
Discover the arts of Asia this summer at the Crow Collection! Learn about yoga, performance, cuisine and culture across China, India and Japan; grab a sleeping bag for the first-ever Saturday night sleepover

Weekday Camps in June and July plus NEW CampAsia Overnight in July

REGISTRATION ENDS TUESDAY, JUNE 1!
To register, please contact education@crowcollection.org or call 214-979-6435.

The Crow Collection of Asian Art
2010 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Yogiños: Yoga for Youth (ages 6-12)
Monday, June 7 – Friday, June 11 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Yogiños: Yoga for Youth is an “OHMazing” trilingual yoga camp facilitated in English, Spanish and Sanskrit that uses music, games, stories and sensory-integrated activities to align minds, bodies and hearts on and off the yoga mat. Join Elizabeth Reese, founder of Yogiños, to discover the history and practice of yoga throughout Asia. Learn fun yoga moves, create recipes for healthy snacks, and make yoga-inspired works of art.

Dancing with Dragons: Performance Across Asia (ages 8-10)
Monday, June 21 – Friday, June 25 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
From Kabuki to Bollywood to Lion Dances, move to the tune of Asian beats and work with professional Asian musicians and performers. Learn about Asian dance, theater and musical performances while creating costumes and participating in live performances.

NEW! CampAsia Overnight: Spend the Night at the Crow (ages 6-12)
Saturday, July 10 (5 p.m. – 8 a.m.)
Little adventurers and their favorite adult can spend the night at the Crow Collection of Asian Art! Enjoy a sleepover in the Museum’s galleries featuring flashlight tours, storytelling, art activities, Asian games and much more.

Cooking for Kids: Foods of Asia (ages 6-8)
Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 23 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Little chefs will delight in making delicious dumplings and candy sushi! Learn to cook fun Asian treats with area chefs, and discover the traditions involved with each Asian delicacy. Create a recipe book, and enjoy a special parents’ lunch and tea ceremony.

Celebrate Asian Heritage: Families with Children from China (ages 6-12)
Monday, July 26 – Friday, July 30 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Celebrate the rich culture, traditions and arts of China through performances, cuisine and games. Make dragon boats, learn how to perform a dragon dance, and create a beautiful family scrapbook to share with loved ones.

CampAsia registration ends Tuesday, June 1. Cost is $300 per weekly camp for Friends of the Crow Collection and $350 for non-members. CampAsia Overnight is $125 per child for members and $150 per child for non-members. All camp fees include cost of supplies and snacks. Payment is due in full upon registration. No refunds.

To register and for more details, please contact education@crowcollection.org or call 214-979-6435.

Is having three really the same as having four?

My answer?

No, however it might be because I have three very energetic boys, and one sleepyheaded newbie. My toddler is very much in the "toddling" stage. Everything is his space, and anything is game for him. He hasn't understood my words "No, Danger" and laughs when I say it. The reaction is getting tiresome. How do you stop it, I know with other things its always don't give them the reaction and they will stop. Well, how on earth do you not give your 17 month old toddler a reaction to when they are about to jump off the playground equipment. And how do you keep him from doing this without losing your newborn in the process.
I can't possibly lose my little ones. I could carry her, but she's not quite fitting well into my carriers, so I've only used it once, she just wasn't comfortable in it, which I think has alot to do with how little she still is.

I couldn't push a stroller over to the spot where he was, so putting her in the stroller isn't an option. I'm at a loss for what to do with my active little man.

Other than that, my oldest son doing very well. This month he's had all greens and one purple at school. Next we have KB, who isn't doing so great. He's in that stage where he wants what he wants and if he doesnt get it, he wont listen or do what I tell him to do. Because of this, its turning into an issue with him possibly getting hurt or lost. Especially when we're out and about. It's hard to keep up with four kids, and mine have a tendency to get very stubborn, (and yes I know it comes from my husband lol, ok ok, and me) but nothing really works for KB, talking to him like a big kid, spankings,timeouts, nothing! It just doesn't work.

So anyone have any tips for how to make our kids listen. And as I've said before, whoever said three is the same as having four really did not have my kids!


On another note, I will have a blog review on the Quinny Zapp stroller, so stay tuned!

What is the ideal wife

Is she smart? Is she pretty? Is she opinionated? Will she argue when it's something she is passionate about? Or is it someone who would just sit by and let others make all the choices and decisions for her?

There was a time I believe that last statement was true. I don't agree that we live in that time anymore. Although I believe deep down men would like it to be that way.