A SPLASH OF COLOR--LITERALLY

Nowadays I suppose its simpler to give gift cards as birthday presents. Nothing wrong with them...it's just that when you have 5 kids going to various stores is never ideal. And the younger ones don't understand why the older ones are getting presents and they're not. So the gift cards pile up until one day I need to bribe the kids to do something and the reward is "I'll take you to the mall and we can use your giftcards!" Many a rooms have been cleaned with this tactic--so its my go to when I need help. Last Saturday we went to the Mall. My oldest daughter Graceann was really excited to use her giftcards--and mind you some of these were from 5 years ago. It's a wonder they had any money left on them. One of the cards was for a store called Delias. It's a cute store...mostly teenage clothing...although if I had a cute little bod--I wouldn't mind shopping there. So when we entered the sales lady started yakking away to my daughter Graceann. I swear I understand English but my "teen talk" is not quite there. Graceann translated and apparently told me that the sales girl told her that if she tried on a pair of jeans she would get 10 dollars off her purchase. I laughed at Graceann's naiveness. Why would anyone take 10 dollars off just for trying a pair of jeans. I told Graceann she must have misunderstood. Now my "teen talk" kicked in and I told Grace that you probably got 10 dollars off a pair of jeans if you buy them...and I'm sure they're ove 85 dollars to start with. So we looked around. And Graceann found what she wanted to buy with her gift card. The only "slight" problem is that she wanted to buy 102 dollars more than her gift card was worth. We narrowed our choices and after about 45 minutes decided on 3 different options that still cost more than the gift card was worth but significantly less than the 102 dollars. And we didn't try on jeans and we weren't buying jeans so we weren't getting 10 dollars taken off our bill. Low and behold we bring our purchases to the cash register and the sales lady asks Graceann if she tried on any jeans. She announced they were having a promotion and all you had to do was try on jeans and even if you didn't buy them you would receive 10 dollars off your order. My language of teens really is rusty....where have I been. Well just as fast as I was going to tell Grace to go try on a pair of jeans, I hear a loud crashing sound. It came from the nailpolish rack...and my daughter Pauline was the one right near it. Nail polish scattered and smashed everywhere. The floor was a beautiful shade of lilac. And when I say nail polish was everywhere....I mean everywhere. It was one of those moments when I wanted to say, "Little girl...do you want me to help find your mom?" I mean how could one of my kids make such a mess...but she did. At that point I didn't care about trying on jeans or getting 10 dollars off my order (although it would have been a nice discount)....I figured we must have smashed over 10 dollars of nail polish...so we would be better off cutting our losses and run. So we paid our bill and ran out of there as fast as we could. I am sure there is a WANTED poster of my face at their front door. Well that didn't bother me because we used up the gift card and theres no reason to go back....until Grace told me that she really doesn't think the tee-shirt she got is the right fit and she needs to exchange it for a smaller size...maybe this time I'll try and leave my 5 kids home....and if I do....I'll try on a pair of jeans.

SUMMER TIME BLUES? NOT IF YOU FOLLOW THESE CUES!

ENJOYING A DAY IN THE SAND!

At the beginning of summer...as sure as the sky is blue I am asked the same question over and over again...from familiar friends to complete strangers...SO WHAT ARE THE KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER? As much as I would love to send them to camp, to the local pool, or some kind of attention getting club...the fact is that we can't. Money is tight and I am not currently working. So they're spending their summer at home...in the backyard in a pool my husband is still trying to level, in the basement where their favorite Barbies live, and in the local library which doesn't cost $425 dollars to join. I often joke that they're spending their summer at DEYO CAMP....that's when I bring out the creativity and craft ideas I learned from working with Martha Stewart--such as dying beads and making necklaces, or baking homemade bread, or drawing on the dry erase board i found at a flea market for a dollar. The fact is there are lots of things to do that are cost free--or of little cost to keep the kids busy this summer. Here are some of our standbys.

LIBRARY--most towns have a local library along with a reading club. Kids sign up and after reading a certain amount of books win prizes. Every so often we declare BOOK NIGHT in our household--TV is off and we all read.

BAKING--if given the chance to make pizza from store bought bread or make it yourself dough--the answer is always the latter. They love getting their hands dirty and making dough. (I don't like the clean up part--but it keeps them occupied--and helps create dinner at the same time--so I can't complain). The ingredients are easy--flour, water, yeast--then your favorite topings. The kids love sitting around and waiting for the dough to rise.
Pizza is fun to make but any kind of baking can be fun. Try making something from scratch instead of box mixes...the kids will feel a sense of accomplishment...and math fractions come in handy too.

ZOO--we haven't hit the local zoo yet...and while its not free, its a whole day of entertainment and watching animals--and many local zoos have discount days or nights. Check the internet for coupons which help.

CRAFT STORES--many local craft stores have free programs for kids...its their ploy to drag you into the store...while the kids get to create some fun projects.

If you have other fun free ideas...email us at www.threepluskids@aol.com and we'll be sure to post them soon.

Thanks...

THE COW BELL

If you're someone who reads my blog you know that I have posted quite often the annoyance of parents at softball games who scream and yell to the point you want nothing more than to slug them. Yesterday was an all time low. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine someone bringing a cow bell to a softball game and ringing it endlessly everytime their team did something good. Honestly when I first heard it I was about to race over with money and buy ice cream...I thought it was the Good Humor Truck. This is someone who clearly has too much time on their hands...and quite frankly with that much time on their hands...I'm jealous! I can barely make it out the door remembering my daughter's gatorade. Can I tell you how many times I've had to turn around because we forgot something essential? Like cleats, a mitt, a bat...but a cow bell? I wouldn't even know where to buy one. Who thinks...let me bring a cow bell to a game and cheer the team on? Does one ever think of the ridiculousness that comes with it? If I even had a cowbell...there is no way I would even bring it to the game. My husband wouldn't let me ring it. He would claim I am inciting the other team...and was in violation of the Parents Code of Ethics. (Yes Bob plays it by the book always!) Well not one to be a shrinking violet...I fought back! Thankfully my keys chain holds enough keys to rival any janitors...(I am not even sure where they all go to)....so everytime my daughter's team did something good I started ringing my keys. It was a battle of the clangers....and while it might have been a bit annoying....when I "rang" my keys....all the parents on our side couldn't help but smile. It didn't do much to shut up the cowbells...but it made me feel better. Maybe I should start a petition to outlaw cowbells...honestly what will be next, airhorns? believe me I wish I had one yesterday. I know I shouldn't get worked up--but I like to go to a game...and sit and enjoy it for what it is...good, clean fun the way I enjoyed it when I played. Times have definately changed....and unfortunately not for the better.

THE JOURNEY

Pauline showing off her new earrings....she's definately a girly girl!

Everyone jump in the pool!

Dont' be afraid of the waves!

Summer in Cape May...breathtaking!

It's been months since I've posted anything...and for that I'm sorry. It's been a crazy summer--and while that's not an excuse...what really happened is my camera broke and I got lazy. Now when I say my camera broke--what I really mean is that my youngest Rebecca poured Lemonade in my purse--and my camera just happened to be there (since I love taking photos at anytime). I turned the camera on when this happened and it worked which I was relieved about--but the next day it was shot...wouldn't turn on...wouldn't do anything. When I told my husband I would like to get a new camera--he insisted we buy the most indestructable on the market...he said with the way we go through cameras like water. I told him to give me another chance...let's invest in a nice camera and I promised to take personal responsibility (and I would file a restraining order between Rebecca and liquid of any kinds!) After a bit of cajooling he surprised me with a Nikon Coolpix Camera...wow I really like it. Best of all...I am back on the blog with more stories, more recipes, more ideas...more of everything--especially PHOTOS!!!!

Now I titled this post THE JOURNEY. That's because I just finished Danielle Steele's book the Journey...and I loved it. The underlying message...what happens in the beginning or the middle or the end isn't as important as the journey it took to get there....my journey is continuing and I'm glad my family, my friends, and all of you are here for the ride. Enjoy your journey...each day counts...each day enriches us in ways we should appreciate now before its too late.

LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS OH MY...BUT SCARIER--TEENAGERS, TEENAGERS AND TEENAGERS! OH MY!

Rebecca is only 3 years old and she's already glued to Tiger beat and Justin Bieber!


Remember when Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Tinman were following the yellow brick road and they were frightened by the possibility of meeting LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS? Well that doesn't hold a candle to TEENAGERS! And who am I to talk? I don't even have any teenagers yet...just the pre-teen signs of whats to come...and I'm afraid...very afraid!

I can remember bringing all 5 "pink" bundles of joy home from the hospital. Everyone said--"you're so lucky--girls are a dream--sugar and spice and every thing nice...no snails, or puppy dog tails here". Of course then there was wise old mom who said--they're sweet as pie now...but wait til they're teenagers--that's when you'll wish you had 5 boys! Of course I believed my girls would be different. They won't fight, they won't pull each other's hair, my girls will defy the odds....who was I kidding...after all I was a teenager once myself and apples don't fall far from the tree.

Remember all the time you spent fixing your daughter's hair so it was just so cute? Well that comes back to haunt you in the teen years....Graceann now spends hours and hours in the mirror making sure her hair is "just so cute"!

Graceann...and the new generation's peace sign!

Graceann taking a picture with her phone to make sure her hair is perfect...notice I said with her phone...when I was a teen you talked on the phone--just for 2 minutes to find out the homework you forgot to write down--you never spent hours and hours on the phone--and of course back in the "olden days" there was no such thing as taking a picture with your phone....pictures were to celebrate special events...not to see if your hair is perfect.

notice Grace's outstretched arm? That's her holding her phone taking another photo..making sure a hair isn't out of place....if only she did the same with her room--making sure an outfit, or book, or whatever else is on the floor wasn't out of place!

I am always excited about what the future holds...but at the same time I'm so afraid of the drama that will come with it. Graceann has fought with her best friend, made a new best friend, got back with her old best friend and made her new best friend her second best friend, and then made her second best friend and her first best friend become best friends all in 5 minutes time...I can't even keep up.

What about the boyfriends? I am sure they will come calling too...am I ready to handle dating? My husband (the police officer) used to tell people that when dates came to pick up the girls he would conveniently be cleaning his gun at the kitchen table...and would hold it up to the fellow and ask what time was he having our daughter home...and to remember to treat her with respect if he knew what was good for him. I--on the other hand...have my own method when it comes to dating. After Grace and her boyfriend leave...I get into the minivan and follow them...of course I will also invest in a good pair of binoculars before this date. You've heard of hiring private investigators to check if your spouse is cheating...well I'm starting a mom investigator business...to check and see what your teen is doing with who...and to stop anything from happening if it is ever to begin.

Of course my mom also told me (after she said be prepared when they're teenagers) that all your hardwork in raising the girls when they're little will determine how they act as teens....and to always remember that....(maybe that's what scares me so much!) Have I done enough to teach them right from wrong? Did I let them get away with too much? Spoil them? Was I home enough?

Time will tell...in the meantime...I take photos of notes like below to remind myself...even though they're teens...they'll always be my little babies. My daughter Caroline wrote this note on her dry erase board after her 10th birthday.

It says: Dear Mom, I love you so much. You Rock Mommy even though I am 10 years old I will always be your little baby girl/pre-teen/kai. Well thanks for my presents. Love you Caroline.

AND THE STARRING ROLE OF MOM GOES TO.....ME!

"Enjoy the little things in life...they are fleeting...so said a busy mom"

Becca with her flowers for the May Crowning

The girls bringing their flowers to the May Crowning

Cupcakes for the May Crowning...notice the crosses made out of cookies?

The flowers by Mary were beautiful!

Caroline pitching at her game

I even squeezed in some time for a little knitting

You've heard of stop and smell the roses...well what about stop and hold the caterpiller? not me--thank you!

So I am now officially off for a few weeks of summer and I get to star in the role of "Mom". I get to do things that I don't normally get to do when I'm working as a supervising producer for the Martha Stewart Show. For example--school pickup. I am never home by 3 pm to pick the girls up from school. It's a simple little thing...but when you don't get to do it--it's like winning the lottery.

Tonight our church is having it's annual May Crowning. I actually baked cupcakes and will bring them in for the "afterparty". When I was busy working, I rarely had time to bake except on weekends.

Call me crazy--this is fun--and something I can totally get used to. I actually did laundry yesterday (2 loads)..., made a delicious dinner, cleaned out Rebecca and Gemma's closet, picked up all the toys in the basement and then drove my daughter Caroline to her softball game--and we were early! The role of mom is exhillarating...for now anyway. I love being there for the kids and making lunch, and taking them to school and cleaning up after them...someone pinch me--did I actually say cleaning up after them? Hopefully this will last just until I have to return to work.

It made me think--the grass is always greener on the other side. I can't tell you how many times I've heard--you're so lucky to be working full time--interacting with other adults--accomplishing so much. When in fact, I think the stay at home moms have it better---time with their kids, time making lunch, time cleaning--ok...maybe not cleaning...but the grass is greener on the other side. The only problem is that when you get to the other side the grass stays green only for a few weeks...then you want to run over to someone else's lawn. Then someone else's after that...and so on and so on. What does it take to stay in your own backyard? Maybe just a patch of everyone's grass in one yard would do it....hard to juggle. I haven't figured it out yet...so if anyone else has--please email me at threepluskids@aol.com would love to hear from you!

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND "CHALK" IT UP TO CAROLINE'S BIRTHDAY!

HOMEMADE CHALK

A few days ago we celebrated my daughter Caroline's birthday. The day starts with a breakfast of choice...and choice means anything--from bagels, to waffles to hotdogs to cotton candy. Caroline wanted chocolate ice cream....Happy Birthday here you go. It's the one day of the year you know you can start the day off right. A few days before her birthday we made homemade chalk. We had made it on Martha's show a week ago and it was simple and alot of fun. We made star shapes. We decided to make some for her class that she could give out on her birthday. They came out great and we packaged them in a bag and typed a card that read HAVE A GREAT DAY AND "CHALK" IT UP TO CAROLINE'S BIRTHDAY!" then under the headline we printed the directions for homemade chalk...it was another hit. Birthdays are special...they come only one day a year--but the memories of the day last a lifetime!

For those of you who may want to make chalk with your children here are the directions:

Supplies:

tempera paint (colors of choice)

1 cup water

1 1/2 cups plaster of paris

2 silicone trays

mix 2-4 tablespoons of paint with the water. Slowly mix in the plaster of paris. Consistency should be that of frosting. pour into trays. Allow at least half hour to set--best used if set 24 hours. Enjoy!