Stuff you learn when you take three little kids skiing on a regular basis

You need a label maker or a roll of masking tape and a sharpie. Now I know, I know, you say,

"Holly - you are obsessed with labels"

but I am telling you - you don't have a prayer keeping up with all the stuff - not a prayer - I promise you.

Now there are several ways to keep up with the stuff but I have gone with the bag method. Each person has a ski bag - as their ski stuff comes out of the wash or gets dried and cleaned it can just go back into the carefully labeled ;) bag. Now I even put a little label on the tag of each child's under layers because they all have black in different sizes so that they will hand down to boy or girl. This way I just look at the tag and I don't have to think about what size fits what kid which you know can add seconds if not minutes to the process and really - who has that kind of time.

When you are skiing with just your husband or by yourself it is easy to complain about the cold and take your time getting down the mountain. The second you have a kid with a wet glove you find yourself sacrificing your nice warm gloves without thinking twice. (Now you will think a lot more than twice about this decision as your fingers turn blue but the initial reaction is pretty much instant.)

The same holds for once you begin skiing with your children. This leads me to my first point:

Little kids are crazy.

They are fearless and they go smoking smoking fast. Like tiny torpedoes heading down the mountain at breakneck speed. You wanna talk about a loss of control? Yeah - big time. Not theirs - they believe they are in total control at every moment - your loss of control is huge. There is no "let's hold hands" or "stay together" you have given them a license to speed and I promise you they will use it. Now don't let this scare you - they are like Gumby on skis - they can fall and crash in ways that would literally put you in an operating suite but they just bounce right back up again and keep going. Hence the lack of fear. The only real lesson to be learned here is - you gotta step up your skiing game in a big way.

This leads me to my second point: If you are a cautious skier like myself you go from sweeping s turns to Olympic speed (at least that is what it feels like) when you hear those dreaded words -

Let's Race!

So here is a purely hypothetical one (because who in their right mind would admit this if it actually happened to them). Let's say you wrench your knee a little bit the day before (you know chasing the children at breakneck speed) and being a good packer you hypothetically put some Tylenol precise pain relieving cream in your pocket - again hypothetically. So you hypothetically have the cream in your pocket and you go to the bathroom and decide to put some on the poor aching knee while you pee. Hypothetically. Here we come to the hypothetical lesson - let's say you are right handed. Don't use your right hand to put the tingly ben gay like cream on your knee because then you are going to have to wipe with your left - totally awkward in a purely hypothetical way because no way that happened to me and for sure no way I blogged about it and for sure no way when it didn't happen to me did I think to myself,

"Darn it self - now you are gonna have to blog that one."

Anyway - I digress. Back to skiing with little kids...... ahem

You need to pack a bunch of food and snacks in your bag. Skiing is like swimming. Makes em hungry like bears. Mean cranky bears who should not be let loose in a concession area.

You really have to get your own skis and snowboards if you are going to live in a ski area and go on any kind of a regular basis. It is just a huge waste if you don't. There is way too much good resale out there and now that everyone in the family has all of their own equipment (purchased at rocking prices if I do say so my super savvy shopper self - alliteration - sweet!) anyway now that everyone has their own stuff things are faster, cheaper, and easier.

It is an amazing thing to do as a family because it really is a family activity that everyone can enjoy. We talk and laugh and make stories that we will have to tell forever.

Then you get to the reality check when you come home and dump tons and tons of wet, dirty stuff on the mudroom floor all waiting to be washed, cleaned and re-sorted.

The plus side of this - the children will be crumpled in little exhausted balls on the couch so you totally have time to get to it.....

oh wait - what about the little crumpled Mommy ball on the couch?

Well - you can always get to it tomorrow

Pin there, done that! Valentines Day Edition

So I have to say that this picture right here is exactly why I love pinterest and blogs and how to sites. The looks on their faces say it all and everything that I did was so simple and so cheap but because I was inspired and it did not seem overwhelming, I made the effort to make Valentines Day really special this year and it was so I am so excited!

My girls getting off the bus to find Valentines Day balloons tied to the front porch.

Yep - that's it - Valentines Day balloons

(By the way - did you know that the Dollar Tree sells mylar balloons now?)

Yep - for three dollars - you too can buy those smiles.

Who knew?

Now for the purposes of this post I am not going to link back to each original pin because my time of peace this morning is coming to a close - quickly - oh my was that a crash?

Anyway

The how to's for all of these are in my Holiday board on pinterest. If they are not there than it was just my idea and probably doesn't need a how to - like the balloons.

For our Daddy I picked him up a book from BJ's. He reads a lot but always on his ipad. I feel like it is good for our kids to see Daddy with an actual book in his hand plus I am a big library, used book store girl so I just love the feel of a brand new book. I also got him some packs of gum - he is a gum guy and we made him his card.

Around the outside of the heart made with paint and three little kid hands it says

Happy Valentines Day Daddy. We love you very much. Love all three kids and most of all Mommy.

This was the table set up for the girls after school. I bought them a pretzel making kit and they thought that was the best present EVER. 7 bucks at BJ's for a healthy after school snack and I was a hero. Once again

Who Knew?

I just cut out hearts and made a little path from the front door to their surprise.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeazy

Now for Valentines I let each child go through my pins and choose what they wanted. This was the Valentine that my son chose for his preschool class.

Here are the three getting ready to head out on their V-Day.

This was what I sent to school in the girls lunches. (You know - with leftover Halloween candy because that is how I roll.)

I made this for all of the teachers, bus driver etc. Man that popcorn recipe was tasty tasty goodness. I used the cherry valentines M&M's and whoa - good.

These are my first grader's Valentines. She chose one for the boys and one for the girls. Total cost 4 dollars in glow sticks plus cardstock I already had and a little ink.

Here are my fourth graders valentines. She also chose one for boys and one for girls. Now here is my recommendation on this one. Those alligators were a pain in the neck but guess what - not for me! She was big enough to just give the project and let her have at it. I do not recommend that one for little kids unless you want to do all the work. The crayons turned out remarkably well but once you use one of those little rubbery heart things for crayons it will become a crayon cooker for life - no going back.

It was a fun, easy, cheap Valentines day. I snapped pictures with my iphone along the way and I am just now posting but I am excited for Easter this year. Last year at Easter time we moved and I just wasn't in to it. I completely flubbed Easter. Flubbed I tell you Flubbed and I don't use that word lightly. We will see how I do this year.

;)

Pin There Done That and Blog Committmentphobia

So a couple of days ago my Mom and I cooked up this cute Pin There Done That blog meme idea. Then yesterday I had a bad case of blog committmentphobia. The thing that I like about my blog is that if I have something on my mind I type it out. I hope that it helps me remember this time of my life and because my family just had a big state to state move it is a nice way to keep in touch with friends from near to far.

What I don't like about blogging is for it to feel like something that I HAVE to do. Also - if I get 2 comments, 0 comments, 12 comments (my all time record) I could care less. I don't want to have to worry about how many links I get or likes or whatever. This is my little blog and you know what - love it or leave it - it is all good with me.

That said -

I still like the idea of Pin There Done That as a good way for me to keep track of what I have tried and pinterest and would love to have people join in. Soooooo - if you want to join in - please do. Post on Facebook if I am your Facebook friend, shoot me an email hollyo1@mac.com or leave a comment and I can link back to you or repost. I just can't wait to start looking at the actual practical applications of all of these great pins!!!!!!

The Food Edition

Chicken Parmesan Bake

(Click on the name of the recipe and it will take you to the pin)

This has gone STRAIGHT into the rotation. So so so good - everyone in the family ate it!!!! I used plenty of sauce and because it was a week night I used a tomato basil pre-made sauce so I did not put the real live basil in. I also served it with noodles because - well you know - little kids - noodles - always helps with the sell.

Anyway - Holly's Pin There Done That Star System - 4.5 out of 5 stars

Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Cookies

Now I am not going to lie - I had high high hopes for these and they were sort of a fail. A lot of work for just a little bit of tasty. Also finding the muffin top cups was a pain in the neck. I will probably not repeat this one.

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

I have only one word

FAIL

total fail

The stew meat smelled great in the crock pot but when I put it all together it was a little dry and rejected by all (even me and I will eat anything)

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh oh my. I have made these SEVERAL times and I do have to say - they make me popular wherever I go. Follow the recipe exactly - use an ice scream scoop - you are golden.

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Not gonna lie - I pinned this one so of course I think it is good but I am telling you - it is good. So so so good. Believe me - don't believe me - totally up to you but I am telling you - try this one.

Ranch House Pork Chops and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Now I do not make my mashed potatoes the way that the recipe says. I just chop up my potatoes (with skins on) into chunks and put in the crock pot. I put 1 tsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp salt, some pepper, some butter (you know me and my recipes - half a cup ish) and cook the potatoes all day. Then just mash them with your electric hand mixer (add some milk to the potatoes as you mash - it will make it nice and creamy)

Anyway - the pork chops and mashed potatoes crock pot dinner was easy and devoured by all family members so it is also going into the rotation!!!!

Going through all of my pins makes me realize how many pins that I have yet to try so here are some pins that I am going to try this week. I will report back and let you know how it goes. Also - stay tuned because we are almost finished with the valentines day edition of Pin There Done That :)

Food pins to try next week:

Glazed Donut Muffins

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Lasagna Soup

Sleep Smoothie

Now I would love to hear how you are doing!!!!!!!

Talk soon

Holly

Pin there, done that!

Have you seen this pin?

I am having to just retype it here but I go look at the actual pin and follow Alicia on pinterest and on her blog because I heart her and she has tons of great ideas and pins. Anyway, she pinned this one that says

Pinterest:

Where women go to plan imaginary weddings, dress children that don't exist, and decorate homes we can't afford.

Now here is another one - actual pin here that I think is so funny and great:

Things I've learned from Pinterest

1. People like Nutella... a lot

2. Mustaches are still popular

3. This place is crawling with grammar police

4. Anything cute and fuzzy will be repinned.

5. Haters gonna hate

6. Fattening goodies are EVERYWHERE! (along with a lot of fitness inspiration....hmmmm)

7. People like Bacon.... a lot

8. Once you log on... you can never log off

9. Girls will always love pink, glitter, diamonds and anything else that sparkles.

10. There's a whole lot of "to do" lists that aren't getting done.

11. Pinning makes you feel creative and artsy even if you don't have an artistic bone in your body

What I'm still trying to figure out.....

How can I make a career out of being a "professional pinner"?

Thanks Wendy Russell for that one.

Now I know that you are wondering when I am going to finally get to my point. I actually do have a point and I am going to state it here.

I heart pinterest

BUT

I want to ACTUALLY do some of the fantastic stuff that I pin. Not just have another time sucker on the computer. (Cuz you know I really need another one of those.....)

So here goes:

I called up that Mimi, mother of yours truly, senior computing wiz and a blogger herself (go check out her blog for boomers and seniors HERE) and said, "Hey Ma, I need a button." (She really hearts it when I call her Ma I think). Anyway, I love what we came up with and here it goes.....

Now my goal for my new button is I am going to try to post pictures and/or pins of stuff that I ACTUALLY did from pinterest. I was kicking around starting one of those meme's like Kelly's Korner or one of the popular girls do but I am not sure if I can handle the rejection if no one links up so I guess we will see if we catch on. Anyway, stay tuned tomorrow for the first ever installment of

Stuff that only experience can teach you

Hurts go away

Aches tend to stay

Chocolate really is medicinal

Alcohol really is not

Just keep washing. The dryer will eventually catch up.

Never, ever, EVER walk in front of a child pushing a grocery cart.

Fevers are good, puking is bad, you can survive head lice and they really do stop getting sick as much as they get older.

If you have a soccer chair in a bag on your shoulder and a toddler on the ground pitching a fit, set down said soccer chair BEFORE bending over to deal with aforementioned toddler or else the soccer chair in question will come swinging off of your shoulder straight into the face of said toddler with truly remarkable force.

This will not improve the toddler in questions mood.

Kiss your spouse every day.

Kiss your children every day.

In the beginning this is easy. Newlyweds and babies are very kissable. As people age it might not hurt to remind yourself to kiss them but I have found that as my loved ones grow bigger (and in my husband's case just older ;) that the kissing is all the more sweeter.

Do not ever say that you are looking forward to a quiet week. There is no quicker way to invite puking/huge household disaster/unexpected house guests to appear.

Do not ever, EVER, ever under any circumstances say,

"Oh well my (insert your angelic child's name here) would NEVER do that."

(Cuz guess what - they somehow have a magical way to hear you say that to someone and will think of something particularly shocking to horrify you with next week.)

If you burn dinner (not saying I have but you know - an example ;) no one needs to know. Calmly walk to your meal plan (I hate to break it to you because I know you obsess over your meal plan. Well I know that I do but the cold hard truth is that no one reads it but you.) Anyway, go to meal plan, cross of whatever burnt, write in grilled cheese, no one will be the wiser. This is the beauty of being the master of the meal plan - ultimate control.

If you are standing behind a child that is in a crouching position and you bend over to help the crouching child, for the love of all things painful, protect your nose at all costs.

I do, I never, I might

So - I have been thinking of the "I never" philosophy. You know - when you say - "oh I NEVER...."

If there is one thing that I have learned it is never ever to say I NEVER.

I mean - if you say I NEVER - I mean - really? Can you follow through on that?

One of my oldest friends and I laugh sometimes because we remember distinctly me saying before my first child was born,

"I will NEVER let my child go with bare feet. I just don't get the whole thing with baby feet."

Fastforward 10 years and 3 babies later - ok I admit it - I get it. I have kissed my share of toes and my children have spent an enormous percentage of their lives barefoot. I totally get it. My bad.

When I married my husband, I said,

I do

I should have also said

and you know what?

I might

If you say......

I never

shovel snow or take out the trash. EVER. That is my husband's job and I REFUSE to cross that line

If your husband is in a horrific accident or has a terrible disease or a crazy week at work guess what?

You might

If you say.....

I never

let my kids eat unorganic/fast/insert whatever food horrifies you here

If you have a child get sick or you are stranded at a rest stop or you have a child that will literally only eat one color of foods (you would be amazed how often that happens)

Guess what?

You might

If you say.....

I never

ever ever ever would medicate a child for behavior issues

If you had a child who couldn't function in a classroom. Who is a danger to themselves or their family. Comes home from school crying every single day....

Guess what

You might

Luke 6:37 tells us

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

It is so easy to look at what other people do and say

You Should

Oh I would never

I CANNOT believe (you know with the emphasis on the second syllable of cannot an octave higher)

I do wonder sometimes what others say about me and the way that I am living my life and raising my own but you know what - this is mine to do and my prayer for you is that you make your own decisions without worrying about the you should's and the I would never's because really - no one - no one but you - knows what it is to walk in your shoes. Even you do not know what it will be like to walk in your own shoes a month, a year, ten years from now.

Save yourself from the I never's and the you should's and go back to Kindergarten. Follow this one simple piece of advice that your teacher probably told you

Be Respectful

Be Polite

Work hard

Try harder

Be kind to your neighbor

There is so much ugliness and dissent out there - if we could all try and simplify. If we could all hear that grade school teacher's voice in our ear.

I think

It is possible

That the world could be a kinder place.

In retrospect.....

It may not have been my smartest move when I told the three five year old boys that they could cut and color all of the packaging from that big box........

They did have an awesome time though

and my Dyson got to prove it's worth so in the end- a good time was had by all. (I know, I know - I need to work on my definition of a good time;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone on the fly!!!! ;)