Caillou - Love Him or Wish He'd STOP Whining Already?

So - did that make you cringe or did you sing along happily?

In our house, there would be several different reactions.  My twin boys would probably start jumping around in circles giggling.  My daughter would probably sing along and snuggle in for the show to start and my 6 year old son . . . he would probably go find his DSI and curl up on our big red couch - only looking up every once in a while.

My husband, however, would start screeching - "TURN IT OFF!!!  NOT CAILLOU!!!  HE IS SUCH A WHINER!!!"

In all honesty, I think I've seen a change in Caillou since we started watching it 5 years ago.  They dropped the Rexi, Gilbert and Teddy puppets and Caillou is ALMOST bearable now.  I say ALMOST because I still can't take him for long periods of time . . . but he does whine a lot less than he did in season 1.

A little background on Caillou - (thanks to Wikipedia for the DL)

• Caillou started out as books written by Canadian author Christine L'Heureux
• Caillou is a regular on PBS Kids Sprout (which we watch A LOT of around here)  
• Caillou has a sister, Rosie, who is 2.  He lives with his Mother and Father and sees a lot of his grandparents.  He also goes to playschool (which is a lot like Preschool, I'm guessing)
• Caillou actually means pebble in French (the language the show was originally done in) 
• Not only is Caillou adventurous but he also learns something in EVERY episode

That being said, my husband isn't the only one who has a problem with Caillou.  One reviewer at IMDb said that Caillou's voice was "like Chinese Water Torture" and several other reviewers state that they noticed a change in their child's behavior (things like them whining more and having poor manners) after being exposed to the show.

So, of COURSE, it lead me to think about SpongeBob. We have banned SpongeBob in our house and the kids have been totally okay with - all of the kids. I think that telling my 6 year old that his brothers will grow up to be "stupid" (not from me but hey . . . they heard it) really made him concerned and he makes sure it is never on when the babies are around.  He also doesn't watch it if it is on while he is in a room.  He's really good at just walking out of a room when he doesn't want to watch what is on.

I found an article, "Why Caillou is Better than SpongeBob for Keeping Kids Calm, Focused", that says that Caillou is actually better than SpongeBob because Caillou is realistic and slow paced as opposed to SpongeBob which fast-paced and frantic.  

Okay . . . I'll buy it.  After all, a lot of 4 year olds are whiny, ask a lot of questions, need things explained several times and have high pitched voices that could remind someone who doesn't have a lot of patience with other people's children (like my husband) of Chinese Water Torture.

So, Caillou isn't going to make the kids "stupid" but is he going to make them whine a lot more?

I couldn't find any "official" study on this but I did find a lot of comments/blog posts, etc. that says he does.  There are a lot of parents that don't see why Caillou has to whine so much and I agree.  It can be realistic without being annoying.  I think of Sid the Science Kid - who doesn't whine but teaches kids great lessons . . . if I had the choice (let's face it . . . once the theme song starts it's hard to change the channel without someone crying) I would rather them watch Sid than Caillou.

What about you?  Have a favorite or least favorite kid show?

I would have to say that Little Bear and Blue's Clues (with Steve Burns - because Joe just isn't Steve) are among my favorites.

Oh - and in case you are *ahem* interested . . . I came across this Caillou Drinking Game (which I don't recommend for the AM episodes but totally condone if you are watching a DVD or OnDemand episode with a kid that isn't going to sleep) . . . hubby may just find Caillou a little more bearable after a round of this game!  Or he will end up passed out on the couch in no time!  

Book Club Saved My Life

What were you up to 5 years ago?

I was the mom of two beautiful daughters at the time.  As difficult a transition as new mommy-hood is, the transition from one child to two children blew my mind. Before my second child was born, we had no idea that we would not be able to welcome our new baby home for six weeks after she was delivered. I had no idea that I would practically be living in a hospital trying to divide my time between my 18 month old and my helpless newborn. That I would be commuting daily into town fighting early morning traffic to get to my daughter so I wouldn't miss saying good morning to her. That I would hook myself up to a pump every 2-4 hours for a 20 minutes every day and night so that I could give my child breast milk--only to discover that even that was not good enough. That I would be standing up to doctors and having to "prove" that I was capable of caring for a baby who, at one point, had been deemed "a failure to thrive".  That I would be inserting a feeding tube myself, dealing with projectile vomiting, reflux, and feeding my baby with a syringe from a portal in her tummy.  That I would be giving up myself so completely that my life was all about my children in every way.

It took some time, but at one point I looked into the mirror and did not recognize the bedraggled woman who was looking back at me.  I wasn't really even sure how this creature was able to stand on her own two feet (I now know it was only by God's Grace and mercy and the love and prayers of so many who cared about me that I remained standing). I was literally a dried out shell of the person I had been before having children. And as I stared at that shell, I realized at that moment that I could either crumble into the emptiness or I had to start to fill that shell again!

When I sent that thought out into the universe, the universe lined itself up to provide what I needed. And that thing that I needed was a new friend named Jody and a burgeoning book club. I know it sounds dramatic, but when I say that "book club saved my life," I mean it. It is part of my story, and five years ago I found one of the things that makes me "more than a mommy" today. I know that I would not be the same person today were it not for this group of book loving ladies. Today is a special day as I get the chance to share it with the world:

What:  More Than Mommies' Monthly Book Club

When:  The last Tuesday of every Month

Where:  On the More Than Mommies' Book Club Page (on Face book too)

The More than Mommies' Monthly Book Club (any ideas for a shorter, more fun, name for it?) is a virtual shoot off of the real book club that Janene and I are both lucky to attend.  It all started over five years ago when a woman with a library card and knack for getting people together decided to join her love of reading with her love of socializing, and invited a few like minded ladies to join her for a monthly meeting in the cafe of our local (now defunct) book store. The rest, as they say, is history. The group has grown to include around twenty women who meet on the last Monday of the month without fail.  The beauty of the group and a reason for its success and staying power is that Jody (our founder) has always said "The More the Merrier." From the very first meeting we attended we felt we were a part of something special!

Over the years I, and the other women in the group, have reached out to friends and acquaintances alike and invited them to join the group. Book club is for anyone (even if you don't get to finish the book before the meeting). It's a way for us to take a break from our routine, and talk about books. We've read nearly 60 books (which I will link to soon!) and have had something to say about each one. You can bet that when you get 20 women together there are going to be lots of opinions--not all of the them the same--but our love of reading and mutual respect keep us coming back month after month. And the openness of the group allows us to keep it going--and growing.

For me, it seems a logical step to open up the book club here on the blog. Coordinating all of our book clubbers' schedules is difficult and many have not been able to attend every month because of other commitments. The More than Mommies page will allow those who can't attend the book club meeting to be a part of the discussion about our monthly selection. It will be a place for us to interact, discuss, and connect. It will be another place for us to invite, recommend, build friendships, and foster a love of books and reading. And we are happy that you are here! Please join us!

Here's how it will work:

Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Find us on Pinterest, Subscribe to the blog and SHARE with anyone who cares about reading.  On the last Tuesday of each month I will post the selection for the following month. Read the book, and then come on back to read the monthly book club post and join in the discussion about the book.  You can keep us posted on your progress throughout the month, recommend books, let us know about good Kindle and Nook deals, share your frustration about not being able to find the time to read--really anything book related is fair game for discussion!

For the Month of March 2012 we will be reading:

 The Front Porch Prophet by Raymond Atkins

So grab your copy (you can click on the Amazon link above to do that if you'd like) and start reading! You have until the last Tuesday of the month of March when we will be back to discuss the selection! We want to hear from you so let us know that you will be reading with us this month (an RSVP of sorts).

In the meantime, The More Than Mommies' Book Club Page will be a work in progress (with book lists and reviews and more to come). So check back often to find out what's new--and if you follow us, we will be sure to keep you in the loop!
Happy Reading!

{Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links}

Weigh in: Technology - Good or Bad for Our Children

I LOVE laptops.  I'm on my 3rd one.  The other two have been handed down to my two oldest children, Danika and Nate, who are 5 and 6 years old.  They don't play with them all the time.  They are not on them often. . . they aren't even on them everyday.  


My children are exposed to technology everyday, though.  They watch TV on a daily basis.  They play games on my iPhone, their iPod Touch, my Kindle or the DSI's that they begged us for last year.  


I have always believed that technology was like junk food...okay in moderation, but I'm starting to have second thoughts.  

Don't get me wrong - my kids play real games with each other, the TV isn't always on and they eat their vegetables but I don't want them to miss out on the good things because they are glued to some kind of device.


I also don't want them to be behind other kids. I want them to know how to use a touchscreen and a mouse.  I also want them to know who Mickey Mouse is and be able to sing the theme songs to popular cartoons.


I did a little research and decided that it may be time for me to make a change, though. . . 


One of the articles I read, on the website Science 2.0, had this quote from Peter H. Kahn Jr., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and adjunct professor in the Information School at the University of Washington. He also serves as director of the university’s Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems (HINTS) Lab. 

“In the years ahead, technological nature will get more sophisticated and compelling,” Kahn said. “But if it continues to replace our interaction with actual nature, it will come at a cost. To thrive as a species, we still need to interact with nature by encountering an animal in the wild, walking along the ocean’s edge or sleeping under the enormity of the night sky.”


Another article that I read on The New York Times website talked about the social pros and cons of Facebook, texting and the lack face-to-face social interaction.  Here are two of the quotes that really stuck out to me.

Gary Small, a neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry  at U.C.L.A. and an author of "iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind," believes that so-called “digital natives,” a term for the generation that has grown up using computers, are already having a harder time reading social cues. “Even though young digital natives are very good with the tech skills, they are weak with the face-to-face human contact skills,” he said.

Others who study friendships argue that technology is bringing children closer than ever. Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer, author of a book published last year called “Making Friends: A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Child’s Friendships,” believes that technology allows them to be connected to their friends around the clock. “I think it’s possible to say that the electronic media is helping kids to be in touch much more and for longer.”

Something that surprised me but didn't shock me was that there is a rehab clinic in London for children who are addicted to to technology. It focuses on 3 core elements: Interpersonal Therapy, Technology Hygiene and Life Skills and Health. It's kind of scary but totally believable.  I read that a lot of the children, who range from 12 to 18, were put into rehab because they became violent when faced with the possibility of having their technology taken away from them.  It really made me think of other addictions and interventions.

So what does that mean for my preschoolers and Kindergartner?

I think the first thing I'm going to do is start to look for opportunities for us to get out of the house and interact with nature.  I'm contemplating a zoo pass this summer.  I'm also thinking about other ways to get them involved in interacting with people instead of technology . . . play dates, trips to the park, the Science Center, a few crazy adventures with their cousins.  I might look into what the library is doing this summer, too.

I know that technology is going to be an every day part of my children's lives.  Technology is part of MY everyday life...I may throw a fit if you try to take it away from me.  I know that they will do things that I probably can't even comprehend right now . . . like this:  (I totally just saw this commercial on the Academy Awards while writing this post!)



I want to make sure, though, that they know what a REAL sunset looks like.  I want them to remember playing in the surf on the beach and dancing in the rain.  I want them to know how to call someone and have a conversation with them.  I want them to write letters on real paper with a pen (maybe even in cursive!).


I'm looking for ways to strike the balance between enough technology so they aren't left behind and have the skills that the average person will have as they grow up but also enough "real life" that I can say I am teaching my children how to live.


Suggestions are welcome and I'd love to hear your thoughts about what you do to make sure your kids are living a REAL life and not just a virtual one.

5 Things to Do For Your Hubby ASAP

Lets face it - being married isn't exactly like a sitcom or romantic comedy every day.  I think that for a while I really dreamed it would be . . . TV and movies had kind of given me an unrealistic view of what it would be like to be married.

I should have seen what REAL married life was like from my parents (who have been married for 36 years), but I don't think I really ever thought of them as Husband and Wife while I was living at home . . . I always thought of them as Mom and Dad.

However, now that I am both Wife and Mother, I know that each of those roles takes a lot of work to maintain. Often, because my husband doesn't whine nearly as loud as my 5 year old daughter, I know there are times when Jerry gets the short end of the stick.  I try to make a conscious effort to do at least 1 nice thing for him a day . . . but some days I'm just too tired.

Here's a list of 5 things that don't take a lot of extra effort but can really make the world of difference when it comes to how your hubby is feeling about you as his wife and not just the mother of his offspring:

1) Send him a slightly naughty text - something that will catch him off guard in the middle of the day . . . at the very least it will put a smile on his face and make him anxious to come home to see you!

2) Give him a REAL kiss - you know, the kind you use to give him when you were making out on the couch before you got married and had kids . . . one of those.  (Be prepared for a few Ewwws - or a Look what Mommy and Daddy are doing! If the kids are still awake)

3) Talk about something you want to do just the two of you - It's fun to have a plan for something special . . . a second honeymoon perhaps?  Even though the chances of Jerry and I getting away for anything longer than a night out anytime soon are VERY slim.  However, we do like to talk about what we would do if we could.  We have plans for world travel once the kids are grown and talking about it really makes us connect and think about when we will be able to focus on "us" more.

4) Watch TV together - not very romantic, I know, but it takes very little energy.  The trick is to BOTH put your cell phones, laptops, Kindles, iPads, iPods or whatever else may divert your attention away from your husband, and the show you are watching, out of reach.  Hold hands and spend a half an hour or so just being close to each other.

5) Just tell him you love him - Jerry and I tell each other that we love one another several times a day.  We say it every time we get off the phone.  We say it if we sneak a smooch while heading in opposite directions chasing the twins.  We say it before bed and before leaving one another in the morning.  However, an extra more meaningful "I love you" can really change his mood.  Throw in a thank you or two for some awesome thing he did that day and I've got an extra happy hubby!  For example, I'm lucky enough to have a husband who will do the dishes while I get the kids bathed and ready for bed.  Making a point to walk over to him and say, "Thanks for cleaning the kitchen, honey, I love you . . . we make a great team!" always puts a smile on his face!

Got any ideas for us?  I'd love to hear something you do for your hubby that may not seem like much but really helps to keep the two of you feeling closer. . . of course, the OBVIOUS answer ("a little roll in the hay") is always an option . . . but we need to wait until all the kids are SOUND asleep for that (or invest in a deadbolt for our bedroom door)!

Pictures of the Week

I'm the memory keeper at my house and I have been doing a L-O-U-S-Y job of it up until now. My perfectionism has kept me from completing a single photo album/baby book in my life--and now I'm four kids in! Eeek.  I stumbled upon Project Life around this time last year. And things have changed for me.  I created a digital family yearbook last year and I am working on one for this year too, as well as going back and doing something with hundreds of photos that have been trapped on my hard drive forever! 

I have shared Project Life with anyone who will listen and I just have to share it with all of you too. Plain and simple it has changed my outlook on scrap booking...and thus has changed my life! I know that sounds like an exaggeration of the first degree but it is the truth. I have been carrying around guilt about my lack of scrap booking prowess. I would start something and quit and start again and quit and start again and quit again. Project life allowed me to get rid of the guilt and actually do something with the pictures that I take. Now I have an album, soon to be more than one album, that I can treasure forever!

Janene loves to snap pics too and we thought it would be fun to share our favorites from the week with you:

My Picture of the Week

my girls testing out the new bunk bed my hubby is making

Janene's Picture of the week

Janene used iPiccy to edit this one

It's been a fun week for me...learning more about blogging and building a "social network." Getting out there, showing off the blog and sharing it with everyone I know and hoping they spread it along to everyone they know, dreaming about what we want it to be and where we hope it goes: It's exhilarating to have something new in my life. Life is fun right now! Even though I've been "officially" blogging since the end of 2008, I was never as focused on it as I am now and it feels good to be doing something I love.

The lesson for this week is: Don't be afraid to try something new.




Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for finding us!

Mommy's Guilty Pleasures

I think a gal's guilty pleasures can say a lot about who she is.  I think I take myself pretty seriously too seriously.  I think I make a horrible first impression. I think "getting to know you stuff" is really awkward...at least I feel really awkward about it.  You know how sometimes you just hit it off with someone--they seem to be on your wavelength? They get you and you don't have to try.  I love friends like that. Those are the ladies that I would share my guilty pleasures with. And because I am oh-so-curious to find out what some of your guilty pleasures are, I will share a few of mine. All I ask is: don't judge. Well, you can judge, but don't tell me about it--you can just say to your girlfriend--can you believe that Christine from More Than Mommies is into that? snicker snicker. Or just come clean yourself here in the comments so I don't feel like a loner/loser!

Secret Nutella Eating -- if the girls are shrieking and running amok and mommy is nowhere to be found it's because she has escaped to the pantry with a spoon for a few moments of peace--so very hard to come by. This is a dangerous, dangerous place for mommy to be and woe to the little girl who happens upon her. Instead of getting guilty, I just get snappy. YES. Mommy IS eating from the JAR. and NO, YOU may not have ANY. SCRAM kid.

Pinterest -- I only feel guilty about the amount of time I spend here. I do not feel guilty about loving every inch of it and wanting to try one new thing everyday. From now on if you see something new has made its way to my home's walls, to my oven, or to my closet, don't even ask. Just know that I saw it on Pinterest! You can follow my pins at http://pinterest.com/c_m_hutch/ or follow More Than Mommies' pins (where Janene and I both pin) at http://pinterest.com/morethanmommies/ . And while you are at it go ahead and check out Janene's pins at http://pinterest.com/jkrajci/.

MTV Reality Shows -- Two in particular: All of The Challenges and Jersey Shore. My husband and I are both hooked. We DVR them and watch them together. What a train wreck to watch, but it's our mindless must see TV each week!

Reading Other People's Blogs -- I love reading what other people have to say. The Internet is so full of wonderfully inspiring, funny, witty, informative people who write amazing blogs, or take beautiful photos, or put together the most entertaining podcasts. The only reason I feel guilty about it is that it can eat up a lot of time.  I try to read them whenever I have a free minute. And I have a soft spot in my heart for the bloggers that I know in real life!

Frugality to a fault -- What I call frugality, any sensible person would call cheap (and maybe lazy). Seriously. I use coupons--that part isn't lazy. Anyone who coupons knows it can be a very industrious pastime.  I guess it has to do with my dislike of shopping for and spending money on myself. For instance, instead of making a trip to buy new socks for myself, I will just wear the same threadbare socks that I have been wearing since freshman year of college--the ones that my husband tells me to toss every time he sees I have them on. There is something comforting about clothing that old--although I don't think it can count as clothing anymore as you can see my toes through the socks and there is a huge gaping hole in both heels. I have a few pajama items like that too. The thing is I KNOW I should throw those things away. I know that I can afford to buy something new. I suppose these things serve a purpose for me--everyone needs ratty clothes to paint in, right? Really, I think it's also about the odd pleasure I feel from saying: I haven't bought a thing for myself in six months. Like that's something to be proud of! There's an accomplishment I can hang my hat on! ...I do know how ridiculous that sounds.

But isn't that the thing about guilty pleasures? They are ridiculous!  So I've spilled it...now some reciprocation please?

You CAN'T be SICK!!!

It's a well known fact that, in a lot of households, mothers are not allowed to get sick.  We are not allowed to feel under the weather because our families cannot possibly survive without us.  We are the ones who know schedules, appointments and where the clean underwear is kept.

However, there are times when mommies catch a cold, get the flu or just can't possibly do their normal, everyday tasks.  It's good to have a plan for when that happens . . . because without one, who knows what will happen!

Here are some small tips/tricks to help you make it to bedtime on days when you feel like staying in bed.

If all of your kids are in school for the day - then just TAKE A BREAK!  (Unthinkable, right?)  Seriously, though, you deserve it and it is one of the best ways to start feeling better.  Stay in bed.  Read a book.  Drink some tea with honey - honey is great for you when you are sick! SLEEP!  Give yourself permission to slack off so that you can get back to doing everything for everyone again tomorrow.

If you are like me, then you have to tend to some rugrats while being sick.  Here's some ideas for you to help you get through your day:

ASK for HELP:  If it is REALLY bad then break down and ask for help.  Monday, while I was feeling particularly cruddy, my mother-in-law took my "big kids" (who were home because of Presidents' Day) with her to do some running around.  She actually kept them for most of the day and evening!  It was a huge help!

Give in a little: I have been trying to not give my kids the kind of foods they always want and always eat (like chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and PBJ).  However, yesterday they had 2 out of 3 of those because they are the easiest to make and I know I won't have to fight with them to eat . . . I had no energy for that yesterday.  So . . . it may be necessary for you to back down a little bit to make the kids happy so that you can get some rest in a peaceful environment.

Come up with some fun things that take no energy on your part:  My kids are always happier when I stop everything and just sit with them or play with them.  So, I decided to keep them with me and let them play.  For example, I became a human sticker album today . . .

We also popped in their favorite movie (currently Rio) and "vegged" out on the couch with some popcorn.

I have a friend who made a recommendation that you let the kids color in the tub/shower with washable markers . . . which would be fun for a change of pace around here.  I could see that taking up some time.

I also let them play with some water in big bowls and we added some food coloring and played with primary colors...we didn't make too much of a mess.  ;)

All of these things I was able to do while lying around on the ground/couch and luckily without any screaming or unhappy kids.

And of course - take a NAP together, if you can!

Make dinner easy, too: Order pizza, get take out, have the hubs pick something up.  Create as few dishes as possible and make sure to request someone else cleans up.

Go to bed:  I will tell you that this has to be one of the hardest things for me to do . . . just go to sleep. I'm more likely to stay on the couch and watch TV or lay in bed and read a book BUT putting all of that away and getting a good night's sleep will really make a HUGE difference for the next day.

I'm feeling a lot better today and we all survived my 48 hours of being under the weather  Now I have the task of righting the house after 2 days of "slacking".

Got any good suggestions on how to get through the day with the kiddos when you are sick?  I would love to hear then and share them on our Facebook page!  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Mardi Gras and A Meaningful Lent

Happy Mardi Gras!

Do you do anything wild and crazy for Mardi Gras? I can't say that we get very wild and crazy these days, but we do mark the day with a little fun and revelry to prepare us for the forty days of Lent that follow. Usually it's a meal out, games with the kids, maybe a dance party, or whatever strikes our fancy. I try to eliminate the word "NO" on Mardi Gras. It's a day to embrace life and live it to the fullest! Last year the girls made their own Mardi Gras masks. Nothing fancy just card stock and markers but something to get them in the spirit of the day none the less!

Mardi Gras is fun, but if I told you that I actually prefer the forty days that follow would you think that I am off my rocker? When the glitter settles, I get to journeying. It's a reflective, peaceful time in my life, whether or not we observe the "rules" of Lent (ashes and fasting on Ash Wednesday, no meat on Fridays, giving something up etc.) I bet any of us would benefit from what Lent has to offer: A Forty Day Change of Pace.

Lent is a time to do something different from our normal and truly prepare for the joy of the Easter Season. I prefer the peaceful gearing up time before Easter to the manic gearing up time before Christmas for sure. It is much more suited to my laid back personality.

I have heard Lent described as a time of fasting and feasting--but not just from food: Fast from bitterness. Feast on right relationships. Fast from gossip. Feast on silence. Fast from envy. Feast on thankfulness. Fast from stress. Feast on peace. If we fast from the negatives of life and feast on the the positives, a change will take root in our lives. Of course this is easier said than done, and it is a broken road we travel during Lent, but the journey is worth it!

In the past, as a family we have tried:

Not eating out during Lent--it was kind to our bank account and waistlines and I got disciplined about cooking meals at home.

No Television for one day of the week --what a blessing this has been to me! Prior to this particular Lent I felt like I was drowning in background noise. Our TV would be on from the time we got up until we went to bed whether we were watching it or not, and the volume magically grew louder as the day went on. This is one that we've been doing for over two years now--even when it isn't Lent! We call it "No TV, Monday." We don't always make it a whole day but the TV remains off for much of the day and the rest of the week the TV stays off for a good bit of the day too.

I have personally tried:

Giving up Facebook-- I enjoyed my time away from Facebook and I found that I really didn't miss it as much as I thought that I would. When I came back to it I wasn't spending nearly as much time there and that has been a good thing when it comes to being productive during the day.

Improving the time and quality of my prayer life-- I dedicated a specific block of time during my day for quiet meditation, reading the bible or something uplifting, talking to God, and being thankful.

Taking part in a Lenten Bible Study or Book Club-- it has been very rewarding and uplifting to share the journey with others and to learn and grow in fellowship.

Working on eliminating bad habits or creating a good habit--one year early in our marriage I tried something as simple as making our bed everyday when I got up. That one small act was a physical way for me to say--I am grateful for a new day and appreciate what I have been given. It was a habit that has stuck, I'm happy to say. If the rest of the house is a shambles, I can guarantee that the bed is made at least!

Even if you don't observe Lent, why not join me in making a change for the good over the next forty days? There is so much to gain from a break from the ordinariness of life!

The Milk Jug Igloo

Unlike a lot of people who just recently discovered the awesomeness of Pinterest, I've been pinning for quite a while now.  You can find my pins here - Janene's Pins or follow More Than Mommies on Pinterest, I've been doing most of my recent pinning to the new boards!

Anyway . . . 24 weeks ago (so 6 months ago) I sent our Science Teacher at the Nursery school this pin:

I didn't really expect much to come of it but she loved it and today we attempted to recreate it's awesomeness.

 We started by collecting milk jugs from our preschoolers for about 2 to 3 weeks.  They did awesome and we got well over 500 of them for our project!

The base of the igloo - we glued the milk jugs to the cardboard base to give it a steady frame.

There were milk jugs EVERYWHERE - it was quite a sight!

The further up we got - the trickier it seemed to be.

We were concerned that 2 of our teachers were going to end up stuck inside!

Here's my daughter chillin' (hehehe) inside the finished product!

Side view of the igloo finished.

Now - our igloo did not turn out as perfect as the one that we aspired to be like.  However, I know the kids are going to have a BLAST inside of it!  They will be excited to see what their teachers did while they were off for a few days - and thrilled to see where all those milk jugs went that they brought in!

Out of curiosity, what is the craziest thing that you have pinned that you actually followed through with doing?  I've done a lot of recipes and a few things here and there for school but there are so many cool things that I pinned that I can't wait to try!

I'd love for you to share something you did that you found on Pinterest with us or leave us you link so that we can follow you to see what you pin for ourselves!

Have an awesome Monday!

Making Time For Fitness

I'm a mom of four. I don't have a job outside of my house, but my husband works long hours and many weeks he is working six days. Which means I work full time at taking care of my little ones: getting to and from the bus, to and from preschool, to CCD and Dance class each week, trying to plan and cook most if not all meals at home, keeping the house clean, grocery shopping and taking care of all things MOM. Not to mention taking time to start this blog with Janene!  I doubt my day-to-day is much different from what many of you do...maybe you work outside the home, maybe you have an additional extracurricular or two to get to each week...but my bet is that your day, like mine, is full and as busy as ever.

So how, pray tell, can we be expected to work out? Who has a free hour just laying around to allot to exercise? And even if we did have the time, where would we get the motivation?

I absolutely, 100% did not think I had the time to exercise. But at Christmastime I was shocked to step on the scale and see that I was just a pound or two shy of my heaviest non-pregnancy weight (I don't know why this is a shock--eating chips straight from the bag will do that too you).  I kept pushing it out of my mind and squeezing into my old jeans. I was bloated and uncomfortable. But I kept ignoring it. On New Year's Eve I felt sick to my stomach. Everything felt tight and I had horrible indigestion. I had to do something--and wouldn't you know, it was resolution time. So I've  decided to give it a go...for my health--heart disease runs in my family. For my kids--so I have the energy to keep up with them. For myself--to feel and look better!

And here are a few ways that I am making fitness a priority:

Exercise at home.  Besides eliminating the time it takes to go back and forth to the gym, I don't have to figure out what to do with the kids, and I don't have to pay for a gym membership.  I use the treadmill for about 40 minutes while my youngest is napping. It is a boring workout, but an efficient one for pumping the heart and burning calories. You don't even need the treadmill. You could run outside. Put in an exercise video. Run up and down the steps. Jump rope. I would love to get out of the house to exercise, but the children make it virtually impossible.  I put on some tunes or listen to a podcast while I run on the treatdmill and it makes the time go faster!

warming up!

Make better food choices. Even if it just one small change per week. In the end the small changes add up. For example instead of sitting on the couch with an entire bag of chips or sleeve of cookies I pay attention to portion size. I measure out my snack and sit at the table and eat with intention instead of just shoveling it in out of boredom. I can't even begin to calculate the hundreds of calories that I just mindlessly consumed while stress eating, or eating while bored, or giving in to some craving.

Drink more water.  Water is my beverage of choice and it is a perfect choice! It keeps organs moving. It refreshes, re hydrates, and doesn't have a single calorie. Drinking more water has also helped to curb hunger pains.  Sometimes I made the mistake of believing my body needed food, but what it really needed was more water.  I noticed when I started drinking more water--a glass in the morning, before each meal, and with my meals-- I started to feel better, my skin seems clearer and softer too!

Build a community. I use an app called MyFitnessPal. (You can also log in from a computer) It helps you keep track of what you are putting in your mouth--making you more conscious and giving you a clearer picture of how much you consume. But my favorite feature is being able to connect with other users.  Seeing what my pals are up to has helped hold me accountable. It is also great to get and give encouragement to each other: A prod when we think of giving up, or a cheer when we've had some success. If you'd like to add me there I am: cmhutch

Don't let Perfect be the enemy of Good. I have to thank my friend Chad for reminding me of this! Just because you eat the wrong thing on occasion or miss a workout doesn't mean you have to scrap the whole thing and that you need to let yourself spiral out of control. Every moment is a new one and another chance to try again. So don't be too hard on yourself--but don't give up either. BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH IT!

I'm happy to report that instead of gaining more weight over this last month and a half I have lost seven pounds. I have more energy and my clothes are fitting again!  I am excited to see what the rest of the year brings as I get closer to my fitness goals and I hope that you will take the first step for yourself because you deserve to be your best self!

Today, We are Hopping!

Being a brand spankin' new blog, Christine and I decided to get out and do some visiting to other blogs today in hopes of spreading the word about our little place on the World Wide Web.  We will be hopping around on these blog hops to try and meet some new friends and fellow bloggers -

If you stopped by from one of these blog hops, please leave us a comment, follow us (we prefer Facebook if you can) and we will be sure to head on over and follow you back!

We can't wait to meet some new people and start hopping!

Have a great Friday!

Letters to My Younger Self: Stuff I Wish I Knew

We want to start a bi-weekly feature here at More Than Mommies Called "Letters to My Younger Self: Stuff I Wish I knew" where We will speak candidly to our younger selves about lessons that We've learned with the benefit of hindsight, in hopes that you may relate...

 

Dear Young Christine,

Here you are! A new mom. Did you ever in your life believe that labor and delivery would be so easy? You know it isn't easy for everyone, right? You were actually pretty lucky that your first baby appeared so perfectly into the world after a relatively short labor (aided by an epidural to reduce the pain of your contractions) and just a few pushes. You were so amped up for a successful labor and delivery and I know you are convinced that part of your success is due to the positive mindset and I-can-do-this attitude that you went in there with, but now what?

Now you are sitting upstairs balling your eyes out. You tried to eat something earlier and nearly choked in front of your parents and husband having what, looking back, was probably a panic attack. Your world is rocking because the image that you had in your head of mommy and baby perfectly bonded from the start is just not happening. At the pediatrician's office just yesterday you never in a million years expected the doctor to say that the baby was loosing a little too much weight. When she handed you the formula samples so nonchalantly she never even seemed to realize the tears in your eyes and the lump in your throat. Her concern is for the baby, after all.  The baby that YOU now feel as though you have been intentionally starving with your inadequate attempts at nursing. 

No one really told you that the first weeks of breastfeeding are incredibly hard. So hard that you are literally seconds away from giving up.  Your throat is desert dry. Your boobs are so rock hard and painful that you can't even keep your arms resting at your side without excruciating pain--let alone allow the baby to latch on.  You haven't slept in days and the baby is fussy.  I know you feel like a failure and that you are screwing absolutely everything up.

Jim arrives upstairs with a tall glass of water for you.  He doesn't really know what to say. I think he wants you to give up and give the baby some formula. That isn't what you want to hear; so instead he kisses you lightly, and backs out of the room quietly. Poor guy. You seem to be loosing it, Christine.  Part of it is lack of sleep. Part of it is that one of your nipples is so sore and cracked that it's causing a ragged, piercing pain unlike anything you've felt to date. Part of it is some hormone wackiness going on. Part of it is that you think you should be able to do this by yourself, and you are realizing that you can't. The scariest thing to you is failing this precious little bundle on your lap: Failing as a Mother.

Release that feeling of having to be perfect. Pick up the phone. Right. Now. The first call you need to make is to the hospital lactation department. The women working there will give you some encouragement and tips to try. They will suggest something that will help with the sore nipple situation and they will tell you that it gets better. The next phone call you need to make is to your cousin, Cari. She has successfully nursed four kids already.  She will encourage you. She will tell you that she had trouble too at first. And she will also tell you that it gets better.  Next, you will talk to your mom, and she will drive home the point that giving your daughter a bottle of formula DOES NOT mean you failed. Take a break. Give the baby formula for a couple of feedings and try to nurse again.

As each day passes, you will find that things get easier. Jordan isn't having that heartbreaking problem of "nipple confusion" that you've read about. She is willing to go back and forth between bottle and breast with no complaint. Jim can help with a few feedings. You will find time to take a nap. In a month this will be a distant memory, but one that you won't soon forget.

My advice to you, my dear, is two-fold: Learn to be flexible. There are no hard and fast rules about the right way to parent. The only one with unrealistic expectations of you is YOURSELF and the sooner you let go of those expectations, the better parent you will be.  Reach out. You are not meant to walk in this life alone. Accept help graciously when it comes. Talk to your husband, your mom, your sisters, your family and move out of your comfort zone and make a friend! Build a community around yourself so that you don't feel like you have to do it all by yourself. I know it's hard for you to do...but do it! Because it is worth it, and you will be happier for it!

I love you,






P.S. What would you tell yourself about those early days of Mommyhood? Let us know in the comments below!

Rules of Motherhood

I came across this list the other day and found quite a few of these hysterically funny.

(You might have to click on it to make it big enough to read)

Once I hit High School, I totally wanted to nap EVERY day - but in the last 10 years it hasn't really happened for more than 15 minutes at a time. . . EVER.

I also can't remember a time when I read the obituaries in the paper and didn't wonder how someone died.

I think it goes without saying that whoever discovers how to convey sarcasm easily in a text message or email (FB status or Twitter Update) could make a lot of money.

I always go into the kitchen when I'm bored and the last two . . . the last two on this list crack me up!

It's true, as we get further into adulthood (which I entered a while ago but I'm refusing to accept) there are certain truths that we have to accept.  These are funny, but not all of the truths we will be faced with are funny.  Good and bad, funny and serious are all parts of life and I learned that before becoming a mother but I'm pretty sure that becoming a mother has intensified those feelings.

So . . . I give you my version of just 10 of the Rules of Motherhood:

1. Once your child learns to crawl, you won't go to the bathroom alone until they are in Kindergarten.

2. If you have an important meeting or event that you absolutely cannot miss, expect a child to spike a fever or start projectile vomiting either right before you are getting ready to leave or as soon as you get there.

3. 3 year olds don't have snooze buttons.

4. You won't believe the things you will keep it together for when it comes to keeping your child calm (think a finger gushing blood or an arm bent at a very strange angle) only to completely and totally lose it once everything is fine again.

5. There will always be either laundry to be done, dirty dishes in the sink or an empty toilet paper roll in your house somewhere.

6. You will not eat a hot meal that you have prepared for at least the first 6 years of your child's life - which is even more of a reason to eat at a restaurant now and then.

7. To a toddler, you are much more convenient and easy to find than a Kleenex.

8. There is no worse feeling than seeing your child in pain or hurting and knowing that you have done everything that you possibly can and it is no longer in your hands.  Being a helpless parent is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do.

9. Your children won't be perfect and will remind you of that when you least expect it or have the least amount of patience to deal with it.

10. Even though everyone will tell you and you will try to remember it as you are going through everyday life with your children - you won't believe how fast your kids are going to grow up and how much you will miss the way they are right now.

So, How is Your Marriage Going?

Happy Valentines Day! Did you know that this past Sunday was World Wide Marriage Day?  It has been celebrated on the second Sunday in February for the last 28 years and is sponsored by World Wide Marriage Encounter.  World Wide Marriage day is set aside to honor the lifelong commitment between husband and wife.  If you are part of a marriage then I bet you know that it is work and a beautiful marriage is built on that lifelong commitment to one another--not to be celebrated just one or two days a year (Valentines Day or WW Marriage day) but every day of the year!

Our Wedding Day, August 17, 2002

In a perfect world we would be IN love with our spouses and showing it everyday. I think back to our honeymoon week and the naivete of thinking that feeling we had--the one where we couldn't keep our hands to ourselves--would last forever.  If you think that is true, that it WILL last forever, either:

A) You haven't been married, or at least not for long.
B) You work really hard at making it so--like, full time work at it.
C) You've learned that Love isn't just a feeling. It is a choice.

I'm going to count my blessings for a minute, because I do realize how incredibly lucky I have been to not have had divorce directly affect my life. My grandparents have been married close to 70 years and counting! My parents will have been married 36 years come August. I have had some exceptional role models when it comes to marriage. I've also been blessed to find a guy who has the same level of commitment to marriage that I do and I've come to realize that making a choice to love everyday--even when my husband is crabby (or I am), when he is nagging me to get off the computer, when he falls asleep at 8pm on a Friday night, when he is annoyed with me for locking myself out of the house for the 2nd time in a month--is the ONLY way that marriage works. If we were relying solely on that lovey-dovey feeling of love to keep us going then we probably would have split a while ago.

I got an e-mail yesterday with a link to this article and an observation that the author had caused me to stop and think:

"While parents will cheerfully detail to one another their children’s antisocial behaviors and potty training failures, married friends seldom casually ask, “So, how’s your marriage going?” Announcements of divorce often arrive as bolts from the blue." 

How true is that?  I can think of only a handful of friends that I have had marriage conversations with. And every single time I hear the word divorce associated with a friend or family member my heart just breaks and I literally feel a sense of shock! I know divorce is real and it happens but I always wonder if it could have somehow been prevented.  If we talked about our marriages the way we talk about our kids perhaps we would feel the sense of support that we need to make things better in our relationships. AND I know I am guilty of monopolizing date nights with stories of what crazy thing the kids have done or how I'm so stressed about this or that stage of parenting. Perhaps the better conversation to have is how things are going with us and really taking the time to listen to the answer. 

So How's Your Marriage Going?

Are you flying high in love? No?
Are you a little bored, stressed, and wondering why you got married to begin with?
Are you living like room mates or ships passing in the night?
Are you fighting more?
Are you at a place where you just don't care?
Are you so busy with the kids and work and running a household that you've put your marriage on the back burner?

I want to tell you that we've been there. I guess the next question is what do you do about it?

I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you about making a Marriage Encounter Weekend.  This is a weekend away from the stresses of the world designed for you and your spouse to reconnect and it teaches an invaluable communication technique that allows you to reach a deeper level of intimacy with your spouse.  It is not a weekend for marriages on the brink of divorce but it is for anyone who wants a better marriage Whether you are newly married or have been married for 50 years. Jim and I made a weekend in 2006. My Parents made a weekend in 1979. I know it has made a HUGE difference for us.

Do we have perfect marriages? No. Is it hard work? Yes. Are we equipped to weather the storm? Yes. Is it worth it? Most definitely!

Click on the picture below if you are in Western PA and are interested in learning more about making a Marriage Encounter Weekend:

Happy Valentine's Day My Friends!

How to Beat a Case of the Mondays

My Case of the Mondays is probably a little different than it is for other people but I'm betting a lot of moms will probably be able to relate.  To me, a Case of the Mondays comes from knowing that the piles of laundry I left on Friday are still waiting for me in the basement, that I have to start thinking about what's for dinner this week and I have to look at our schedule (which I have as a large dry erase calendar on my wall) to make sure everything is worked out.  For example, this week is Kindergarten Registration and I need to make sure someone can watch the twins while I run Danika up to the school to register her. I have Open House for work on Thursday and then on Sunday I need to go to work for a special project we are working on.

Perhaps the biggest reason I come down with a Case of the Mondays is because I know that I am kind of "on my own" until Jerry gets home from work sometime after 6 pm.  That's pretty much all day.

A Case of the Mondays can sometimes cause me to want to crawl right back into bed or take a nice long nap on the couch after putting the twins down for theirs.

So, here are some of the things that I do to help make my Mondays feel a little less like the END of something (aka the weekend) and a little more like the BEGINNING of something (a wonderful, productive week - hey, it pays to be optimistic on a Monday!).

Get up early and enjoy some quiet time - I know that there is a lot of temptation to hit the snooze an extra time or two on a Monday because we aren't necessarily excited about getting our day started.  However, if you have just a half an hour to yourself in the morning, it can do wonders for smoothing out how the rest of the day goes.

Take a shower first thing in the morning and get dressed - If I don't make a conscious effort to get out of my pajamas on a Monday I find that I will stay in them most (if not all) of the day.  I am so much more productive when I'm dressed and ready to go out if I need or want to do something.

Make a list for the week - I read somewhere that a great way to reduce stress is to make a list and schedule a time to do the things on that list.  If I know that I have to make a grocery list and go grocery shopping, I will stress out about it and it will make me feel like I don't have time to do other things that I need to get done.  If I make my list for the week and write Wednesday @ 1:30 next to when I will make my grocery list, then I feel better knowing that I don't have to do it now because I have set aside time to do it and it will get done.  It gives me permission to forget about it while I do the other things I need to do because I know that I will get to it.

Put on some music - It AMAZES me how much music can change my mood.  Having some upbeat and happy tunes playing the the background while I do the dishes or make breakfast helps to keep me moving and helps me to feel "brighter" about my day.

Take some time to be thankful - When I am having a bad day or even just dragging a little, it helps tremendously for me to just sit down and make a list of 5 things I am thankful for RIGHT NOW.  I will sometimes hang the list on my fridge so that I can look at it throughout the day and remember the good things I have.  (I especially like to look at the list as I go through the mail - I hate when we get "surprises" in there that I wasn't prepared for)

Get moving, Get out, Connect - I'm not big on exercising but I always feel better if I get moving a little.  Lately, it's been doing the Just Dance Kids 2 on Kinect with the twins but when the weather is nicer I like to take them out for a stroll or even let them run around in the backyard.  Getting some fresh air can do wonders. On days like these, when snow and cold make it tough to get out and play, I like to just take them for a ride in the car to run an errand or two and just enjoy not being home.

I asked Christine what she does to help make Monday a little easier to deal with and she said that she does a lot of prep on Sunday night - things like set out the kids clothes, make lunches, make sure the kitchen sink is cleaned out and shiny (a thing we both learned from the FlyLady).  Waking up to a house that is put in order makes Monday seem a lot more bearable.  

Most of these things aren't things that I will willingly do without a little convincing or at least a quiet mantra of "I think I can . . . I think I can . . . I think I can".  However, once I start one of them then the others seem to happen a lot easier.  

What do you do when you need that extra push to get through your Monday or any day for that matter?  I'm always looking for suggestions!

The Perfect Morning (as perfect as it gets these days)

This morning we woke up to some white stuff on the ground.  It hasn't snowed much at all this winter, so I don't really mind that we have some coming down and it's sticking.

It is the perfect morning to grab a cup of coffee and make a yummy breakfast, to stay in my pajamas until noon and let the kids watch movies from the couch under a blanket.  Their movie of choice this morning was Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and the breakfast of choice was a Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring.

Of course, I didn't come up with this recipe on my own.  I have Pinterest to thank for it.  (If you aren't on Pinterest and would like an invite let us know!  We LOVE Pinterest and would LOVE to share it with you!)  Okay, so here are some pics of my yummy breakfast this morning - and let me tell you it was DELICIOUS!

I will never make premade cinnamon buns again because these were SO much better! (Click on the link for the recipe)

I used Memaw's Bundt Pan - I had my own bundt pan (which I have since given away) but inherited Memaw's when she passed away and I have used it more than I ever used the one I got at my shower.

Here are all the ingredients that I needed - I opted not to use the nuts that Hannah suggested just because I wasn't sure how the kids would respond to them but I KNOW that I would have liked them added.

Before the oven - Super easy!  I used 2 of the small (I think there are 5 in each) Grands Biscuits cans. They go on sale quite often at my local grocery store and I almost always have a coupon so I usually have a lot of them hanging around.  I think I paid around .25 a piece for these after sale and coupon.

Here's what it looked like right out of the oven.  Nate came in about 3 minutes before it beeped and asked, "Mommy, what is that delicious smell?"  He was right - it smelled SO yummy!

Here it is after I flipped it over onto a plate - I actually heard three little "Mmmmm" sounds behind me once I walked away from it.

Here is what the inside looked like - sticky, yummy and warm.

All 4 kiddos ate a big piece of this.  Nate just picked his up and ate it but I cut the rest of them up into little pieces and they ate it with forks.  4 clean plates at breakfast and I even had enough time to drink a hot cup of coffee and eat my own yummy slice!

The only thing that would have made today better would have been if my hubby could have stayed home with us today - we might save him a piece . . . maybe.  :)

Let us know if you give this recipe a try - I'd love to hear what you thought of it!