momonthegoinholytoledo

Math Flashcards

May 22, 2013March 9, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

In an effort to combat summer brain drain I am getting the kiddos into what will hopefully become our summer homeschool routine. Now don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean we will be sitting at the kitchen table for six hours a day 5 days a week. That to me sounds like torture!

To me summer homeschooling means learning through experiences. Visiting the Museum of Art and learning about a famous artist and their works, visiting the zoo and learning about a specific reptile, going to the butterfly house and watching the butterflies in their habitat, etc. Then really cementing those experiences and further encouraging the learning process by going to the library and checking out books about the artist, reptile, butterflies, etc. Learning through experiences is fun and taking the hands-on approach often leads to a better understanding. That being stated it is still important to maintain the rudimentary skills learned during the school year. Like spelling, writing, reading, and math.

So, my plan this summer is to first and foremost hit the pool, duh! I mean come on its summer! However, in-between swimming and visits to establishments that foster experience learning the kiddos will be reading, writing, spelling, and practicing math skills. And since each of our kiddos is at different levels of development I will cater each to their needs. For our son, who officially graduates from preschool this week…AHH…where does the time go?? We will be focusing on basic addition and subtraction. And what better way than by using flash cards! I love flashcards; they are convenient to use anywhere, in the car, on vacation, at the pool, etc. Bottom-line, flashcards rule!

Also, my kiddos are obsessed with dry easer boards. So, in an effort to make it more fun simply laminate the flashcards and the kiddos can write their answer with a dry easer board marker then wipe them clean for the next day. This is also nice for mom because the kiddos can complete the equations independently then you can go over the equations they struggle with.

I have included a few links to websites I can across that offer simple addition and subtraction flashcards. All you have to do is print, cut, fold, and laminate if you wish.

Click here to print a variety addition flashcards, includes the option to make custom cards too!

Click here to print a variety of subtraction flashcards.

Do you have any easy and effective ways that you have found to combat summer brain drain? Please feel free to share links and other blogs.

Kidz Craft: Painting Rocks!

May 19, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

We will be planting our veggie garden very soon and the kiddos could not be more excited! They have enjoyed watching the seeds sprout and grow over the last few weeks. They have been taking turns watering them and they love watching them ‘move’. See we placed them in the corner of our living room so that they receive sunlight from dawn till dusk and you can literally see the leaves sway towards one window in the morning and the other in the evening. Nature really is fascinating!

The children, though excited to plant their garden are a little sad to see their plants move outdoors. So in an effort to make the transition a little smoother they painted rocks to place in the veggie garden. So they went to town painting rocks to brighten up the garden with some color, to keep the plants company, and most importantly to put their little hearts at ease…..

and then we took a five minute break for lemonade and apple slices, yum!

and then they were back at it….

After painting for awhile they each completed 4 beautiful rocks to add to our vegetable garden. I so enjoyed hearing each child’s explanation of their rocks. Our toddler based her inspiration on the fact that she can identify colors and knows which are her favorite. All of her rocks were pink, purple, and green. Our son painted a Pentecost rock for the garden as well as a pirate rock, lol! What a crazy combination right!? So I asked him how he arrived at those and he explained that one is so that the Holy Spirit will be present and God will watch over the garden and the pirate will scare away all the bad bugs and animals, that explanation was so precious! And our eldest said her favorite of her rocks was the red, white, and blue rock because we live in America. I so adored listening to their explanations and can’t wait to see their rocks adorning our vegetable garden.

Do you have a craft or activity that you enjoyed/enjoy doing with your kiddos? Please share I always welcome suggestions/recommendations for future crafts…and easy isn’t terrible, hint hint!

Dream Day at the Mall becomes a Nightmare!

May 13, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

To say it has been a crazy week in our household would be an understatement. Both Mommy and Daddy are on the mends after some health issues. Thus, it finally dawned on me Thursday morning that Mother’s Day is Sunday and we have no gifts for our amazing moms! So after picking up our 1^st grader from school the girls and I went directly to the mall to get Mother’s Day gifts.

It started off as a fun adventure! See I never go to the mall (full disclosure: I get most clothes from Costco’s or second-hand) so as soon as we walked in our toddler was in awe of all the lights, music, shiny jewelry displays, perfumes, variety of stores (including The Disney Store) we even walked pasted a child on a bungee cord and trampoline (which had my mommy nerves on edge), she was mesmerized by all the commotion. At one point she got so distracted she ran into a display. She was adorable! Our 1^st grader on the other hand saw this as the perfect opportunity to bring up a store called Justice and why it wasn’t fair that she didn’t get clothes from there. Thankfully when we arrived at Things Remembered the conversation ended and the innocence of childhood came back. I witnessed it as the girls’ exclaimed the beauty they saw in the music boxes, carousels, etc. It was at that moment that I let my guard down. For the first time, like EVER, I didn’t have to worry about a child breaking anything. The girls were so gentle, even the 2-1/2 yrs. old. Watching them look at the fragile objects around them and eagerly wanting me to see the beauty they saw aroused such a joy within me…daughters! They speak a different language than a son and it was as if we just uttered our first words to each other. This was clearly the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

To commemorate the moment and make it extra special, we stopped in the food court and got daddy a shake and one for the girls to split. It was perfect! We window shopped as we strolled along the storefronts while the girls exchanged smiles and sips from their shake. Did I mention it was perfect? After a VERY long week I felt like this was my ‘mommy reward’ for job well done.

Then it happened……

As we approached the exit my 1^st grader was to my left holding a shake. I was holding my toddler’s hand and my hubby’s shake in the other. We carelessly walked out. See, I am usually on guard. I normally have my keys out ready to go and my ‘don’t mess with me’ highly alerted mommy sensory on sentinel. I don’t know if it was the meds, the moment, or a combination of both but I was not prepared for what happened next.

Out of nowhere a black SUV goes flying past us then bust a u-ey and jumped the curb almost hitting my toddler in the process. It all happened so fast and yet it felt like an eternity in my mind. I stood frozen and the air failed to escaped my lungs while images from movies passed through my head….a van pulling up and grabbing girls to never be seen again….the abduction scene from Taken…the girls from Cleveland who were recently in the news. Then I felt this coldness come over me, like I was being watched, and then the SUV took off like a bat out of hell. I exhaled. What just happened?

It’s not just in the movies, and it doesn’t only happen overseas. Human trafficking is a serious problem locally. Toledo is fourth in the nation for the most arrests and prosecutions of human trafficking. http://www.13abc.com/story/21291908/toledo-ranks-4th-in-human-trafficking

Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Memphis, New York, and Toledo, OH have all become major centers in the global human trafficking industry. In fact, the FBI has listed Toledo (my hometown) as one of the top recruiting cities for human trafficking in North America. http://joeforamerica.com/2013/05/kidnapped-not-just-in-cleveland/

Was that SUV somehow affiliated with human trafficking? Did that driver think I was younger than I was? Is that what that weird eerie pause was before they took off? Did they think we were 3 younger girls leaving the mall? I was wearing a crappy skort, t-shirt, sandals, and hair in ponytail; perhaps they didn’t get a close enough view of the cellulite on my thighs from behind? I don’t know what exactly happened or why but I do know it was a huge wake-up call for me to NEVER let my guard down, EVER!!!

Here are some great articles I came across to help you and your children stay safe. And remember, crime doesn’t wait till you feel better…if you don’t feel well and you can’t be ‘on guard’ don’t go! Nothing is worth the life of you or your children!

20 parking lot safety tips

Keep Kid safe while shopping and Traveling

How to Prevent Trafficking

McDonald’s Egg White Delight McMuffin a.k.a. Mommy Guilt-Free Morning

May 9, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Ever have one of those mornings? The type where everything that could possibly go wrong does? And all you really want to do is throw a full-blown mommy tantrum but you can’t because…well…you’re mommy and what kind of example would that be setting for the children?

So you woke up late, the dog left “little gifts” throughout the house for you to clean up before you even take your first sip of coffee, you have a flat tire, an unexpected road block during school drop off, you handle each challenge with dignity and manage to restrain the mommy tantrum brewing from within. But there is a breaking point…a small little something that really make that mommy tantrum tea-pot whistle…that no mom can escape…MOMMY GUILT!

Webster defines Guilt as….

1: the fact of having committed a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty; broadly: guilty conduct

2a : the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously

Thus when I allow my kiddos too much screen time, fail to make a hot healthy breakfast in the morning, or take time out for me, I am committing an offense!?? Well that’s the way it feels at times, right!?? But who can blame us, society has sent subliminal messages that the modern mom should be a pleasant combination of Mrs. Clever (in our culinary and household responsibilities), Mrs. Huxtable, Mrs. Keaton, Mrs. Seaver, or insert practically any 80’s mom character (with regard to balancing family and career), and a size zero (insert essentially every mother on a sitcom these days!!! Come on!). But guess what?

McDonald has somehow found a way to tame all these pseudo-mommy expectations within us…at least when it comes to breakfast. You can kiss that morning mommy guilt goodbye!

McDonald’s is now offering customers in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan an Egg White Delight McMuffin! It is prepared with freshly grilled 100% egg whites, extra lean Canadian bacon, and white cheddar served on a muffin that delivers 8 grams of whole grains.

I took footage of me and the kiddos trying them for the first time…..

Cinco de Mayo Agua Fresca for kids

May 4, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

As you know I am all about living life to the fullest, each day is a gift, a blessing to be enjoyed and what better way than to celebrate with the kiddos!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo I made the kiddos Strawberry and Lime Agua Fresca (fresh water) with their lunch. And they about lost their minds when I said I was going to blend them a special Cinco de Mayo beverage (Non-alcoholic). See, in our house the beverage options are often limited to water, or water. So, it really didn’t take much to make this a special beverage. But if you are a mom who blends on a regular basis you might have to step it up a notch and add an umbrella or other embellishment to your child’s beverage.

Recipe…

Ingredients:

1lb washed and sliced strawberries

1/3 cup Agave (I like Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue-Agave)

Juice of one lime

2 cups water

Directions:

Blend everything together and pour over ice. Add a cute straw or umbrella to embellish.

Makes 4 cups

“I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given.” ~ Jessica Redfield (Gwahi), a victim of the Aurora shootings on her last blog post before the incident describing a close call she had with death weeks before Aurora.

To celebrating all life’s blessings….cheers!

The Real Housewives: Guilty Pleasure or Toxic Television?

May 3, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Flipping tables, calling each other names, making fun of each other, eating the decoration (bow) off of a cake, rolling their eyes, taking sides….sounds adolescent right!? Wrong! These are activities that adult women have been partaking in while the cameras roll on the Bravo hit series, The Real Housewives.

The Real Housewives is a reality television series, following the lives of affluent, bourgeois housewives and professional women in the suburban or urban areas of several American cities, with the suffix of the title taking on the name of that metropolitan region.

I had to laugh as I read that definition because it makes the show sound so prestigious, glamorous, and classy. And to a certain extent it is. The homes, cars, lifestyle, parties, all materialistic components are amazing! The Interior Designer in me really enjoys seeing their homes, the views, furniture, etc. However when it comes to the actual housewives and how they interact with one another it is darn right appalling at times. They act like adolescents. Now don’t get me wrong there are a couple that slip through that adolescent crack but the majority seem to have never left high school, which totally makes for great TV, right!???

Guilty Pleasure…..

I have to honest it is rather amusing to watch. But I understand that this is a reality series and it only succeeds if there are viewers. That being stated I realize the show isn’t technically ‘scripted’. There is no script typed out and handed to the housewives. However, with the cameras rolling and the egos growing I wouldn’t doubt if most of the Housewives are embellishing, or even exaggerating, how they handle certain situations and interact. I mean, let’s be honest here, I know I always act a little bit nicer when I know I am being recorded on our home camera. Maybe it just works the opposite when you are competing for the viewers’ attention? And why wouldn’t you be. Some of the housewives have gone on to write bestselling books, have their own Spin-off shows, and their own lines of clothing/shoes thanks to their fans. So all that pot-stirring, table flipping, lawsuit threating must be worth it right?

Despite its name, only some of the housewives are married. As seasons progress, a mixed group of divorcees and single mothers….. and issues, involving suicide, divorce, broken relationships, bankruptcy, infidelity, family feuding, alcoholism, eviction, deadbeat parents, and foreclosures have evolved.

Toxic Television……

Are all these outlandish scenes of women bashing each other, picking sides, and causing emotional damage somehow being filed away in our sub-conscious? I am sure everyone is familiar with the saying, ‘you are what you eat’. The question then is: Are you what you watch?

I would like to say no, women realize that these housewives are merely playing it up for the cameras. But that is not the case. Through personal experience and conversations with other women it has come to my attention that there are women who think that it is either acceptable to act the way these women do on the show, or they actually think they are on the show? So either they are mean girls or delusional. Neither of which I would like to be categorized.

I think all issues on the show and in real life stem from not being able to handle confrontation. No matter how you got into the predicament of confrontation/conflict, whether it was a friend disagreeing with you on a project, your boyfriend, your job, a party, etc. it needs to be handled in a healthy way. In an effort to help I have collated a Top Ten…..

Top Ten Things you should not do when you find yourself in a conflict with a friend/housewife/woman:

10. Give them the silent treatment/cold shoulder

9. Send them a distasteful email

8. Gossip…discuss your issues with that person with everyone else….tell the world all the secrets and personal info they confided in you…like Brandi sharing Adrienne’s secret (which I still totally want to know what she said!)

7. Ulterior motive sit down…when you lure them to a location to meet expressing you want to make amends but you actually want to rip the wound open again and toss a little salt in there. (This is a classic on The Real Housewives, it has happened in practically every city)

6. Excluding that individual from gatherings the rest of the group is attending… deliberately hurting them.

5. Rushing to un-friend them on Facebook. That is the adult equivalent of a toddler having a temper tantrum….please! Don’t get me wrong, there are legitimate reasons to un-friend people but this is not one of them…this screams I lack communication skills!

4. Get people to take your side….it is bad enough the two of you are in a predicament, why get everyone else involved? Or is this the Junior High lunch table? Not to mention that just makes people really question your loyalty when moving forward in a friendship with you.

3. Uninviting that individual to a gathering or party…truly distasteful! The host must always remain neutral….do you hear me Kyle, seriously! If guests are going to feel uncomfortable around one another it is their choice to stay or leave.

2. Crying bullying…you have heard of crying wolf? This is similar…. When others have an opinion that you do not agree with you find solace in playing the victim. One word, well, name…Alexis…why?

1. Flip a table…come on Teresa you are better than that! I will tell you what I tell my children “Use your words!”

So what should an adult woman do when faced with conflict from a friend?

You owe yourself, the other individual, and most importantly, your relationship the respect to have a conversation, just the two of you! It need not be something fancy; like meeting up at SUR, a simple coffeehouse or even park would suffice…it is always best to meet on neutral grounds so both parties feel comfortable. And if you have trouble finding the words face-to-face feel free to jot down a few bulleted points. Use calm tones. Simply be respectful of one another. Try not to have any preconceived expectations. Take ownership of your wrong doing. Be an adult, act appropriately. Pretend your child is watching, model the behavior you want your children to reflect. And lastly, it should be noted that not all women are meant to be BFFs. In fact I think God puts particular people in your life during certain circumstances for a reason, maybe we learn something from one another, and we guide each other, or simply provided the necessary comfort along a bump in life’s journey. Thus this meeting could simply be for closure and that is important too.

Bottom line, is The Real Housewives a guilty pleasure or toxic televisions?

The answer is simple, neither. As I declared to my husband every Monday, The Real Housewives is an educational program for women on how NOT to act.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever been caught in the middle of one of the top ten things not to do when in a conflict? Do you happen to know what Brandi said at SUR that day with the girls? Please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings on this topic…

Things to do on Mother’s Day

April 30, 2013April 23, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

It is that time of year again when mothers begin to stock pile their Kleenex and practice their expressions of surprise and endearing smiles in the mirror. When little ones bring home macaroni necklaces and Fruit Loop bracelets, clay plaques with imprints of their little hands, and priceless placements that claim mom is 20 years older than she really is….true story, my daughter claimed that I was 53 years old…I know I look tired but come on-haha!

If you haven’t guessed I am talking about Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day is a day filled with emotion, love, and sometimes a little added stress. While we appreciate every last Fruit Loops our little ones so delicately placed on that yarn it is the inevitable question, “what do you want to do for mother’s day?” that can send our heart rates racing. My first thought when I hear this question is, ‘WHY!’ As Moms we, well, make the world go around, or at least it feels that way most of the time. We are responsible for so many things, people, and events. The last thing I want to do on Mother’s day, a day that is supposed to honor and celebrate all that hard work and responsibility we do year round, is be responsible or in-charge of that day too! But then again what is the alternative? Dad decides what we do for Mother’s Day?

I have suddenly had a change of heart; I will gladly take on the responsibility of Mother’s Day. So I did a little research and it turns out there is so much to do on Mother’s Day. For example, did you know that moms get into practically every zoo, science institute, museum, etc. for free!! How awesome is that? Obviously all these places clearly appreciate us so much that they are giving us free admission for a relaxing day by ourselves, now that is a mother’s day.

Upon further evaluation it has come to my attention that their intent is for a fun family day. To be clear that means you, your husband, and kids. What was I thinking? I mean come on, what kind of Mother wants to spend Mother’s Day alone…like it’s all about her…not me that’s for sure!

So, I have collated a list of fun events, free admissions, and the like, in hopes of laying out all my options when it comes to how I want to celebrate Mother’s Day/weekend (some events are Saturday only):

Brunch….

Call up moms favorite restaurant or nearby hotel, lodge, etc. and see if they are serving a special brunch or meal for moms.

The Henry Ford Dearborn, MI

Elegant. Classy. Affordable. Delicious. A Mother’s Day to Remember. Treat Mom to an elegant Mother’s Day Brunch in Michigan’s most beautiful ballroom – Henry Ford’s private ballroom in Lovett Hall.
The meal is memorable. And the setting? One-of-a-kind. Crystal chandeliers, vaulted ceilings, a terrazzo lobby and a grand staircase. Magnificent! Just what Mom deserves. You’ll dine on a sumptuous menu prepared by The Henry Ford’s award-winning culinary staff.

Toledo Zoo info below

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Shopping….

The Town Center at Levis Commons…….

Levis Commons is here to make all your Mothers Day dreams come true. One place to soak up all the “mom” time you can handle. Venetian Nail Spa, Salvatore Capelli, endless dining options, and if you really cant ditch the kids for the day, Kidz Watch can take them off your hands for a few hours!

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Imagination Station….

Open from 12pm-5pm and when the kids come with her, Mom gets in FREE*!

Join us in Science Studio where you can learn about chromatography and make a special butterfly magnet to take home for your Mom.

Bring the whole family down and celebrate together, exploring, discovering and creating at Imagination Station.

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The Toledo Museum of Art…..

Sun, May 12, 12:00pm – 5:30pm

Free, fun, and open to everyone! The TMA Family Center, located in the education wing near the Plough entrance, is the perfect place for our youngest Museum visitors to make and take memories with their parents and caregivers. Drop in for themed activities that enliven the world of art for kids ages 1-10 (and even grown-ups!). Theme :Tell a story by creating symbols and shapes that represent something personal to you.

Art Hour: Create a Glass Flower- Sun, May 12, 4pm – 5pm and 5pm-6pm

Description: @ the Glass Pavilion -Buy tickets ($15 members/$30 nonmembers; no refunds) in person or by phone during Museum hours starting the Tuesday before each session. Adults and children 14+ with an adult are welcome. Call (419) 254-5771 ext. 7448. NOTE: Most items created in Art Hours require a 24-hour annealing (finishing) process. Therefore, they must be picked up at a later date

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The Rep….

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The Toledo Zoo….

This Mother’s Day, show your mom she’s the best—and show her the world! All mothers receive free admission when their kids bring them to the Zoo.

Give Mom a great Mother’s Day experience by taking her to the Zoo. You can also treat her to our superb Mother’s Day Brunch that takes place in our Nairobi Pavilion. Brunch details

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The Movies…..

Go out and see a movie with the family or stay in and watch home movies. Rave Motion Pictures…..Maumee Indoor Theater

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Mother Nature….

Pack a picnic and head to the park for the day. Go on a trail, explore, and enjoy nature with the family. Or grab your gardening gloves and get that veggie garden started. Metroparks of the Toledo Area

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Volunteer/service….

Spend time volunteering together. Serve dinner at a locale shelter, donate items, help plant a garden, clean up litter, etc.

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Get Crafty…..

In2Art

Open Saturday 11am-4pm Walk-ins welcomed

Paint your own pottery of make a wet clay project with the kiddos.

Edible Art Work!

At the Sugar Shop can you choose from 3 dozen different shaped clear containers and fill the containers with any mix of the 150 available sugar flavors including, root beer, blue raspberry, extreme sour, cappuccino, peach cobbler, etc.

The Scrap Box

Saturday 10am-2pm

The Scrap Box is a store filled with hundreds of interesting objects: ribbons; buttons; beads; paper; colorful rip-stop nylon; sturdy paper tubes 6 inches long; bamboo-like sticks; yellow spongy cylinders; and little foam squigglies.

Best of all: these items are for sale at very reasonable prices.

Using sticky-back foam to create an imaginary critter with plastic caps for eyes and shredded paper for hair is recycling at its best. It’s called upcycling, the ultimate form of re-use. Anyone can turn a recyclable item into something of greater value, and thus, do upcycling

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Go to the Library…..

Family – Mommy and Me Tea

Saturday May 11^th 2-3pm

You are cordially invited to an afternoon tea party in honor of mothers everywhere. Children of all ages are welcome to attend with their moms or special grown-up lady friend. Dress your best and be prepared to enjoy games, crafts, and of course, tea and scones!

Location: West Toledo Auditorium (need to register)

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Have fun with the kids in the kitchen…..

Bake muffins or cookies and let kiddos decorate them just for mom.

Super Suppers….

Sat, May 11, 12:00pm – 3:30pm

Super Suppers (map)

Description: Children ages 4+ can come make monthly menu entrees from *12-3:30pm every Saturday of the month. We hope to see you here!
*Appointments encouraged to be guaranteed entree availability (especially braided breads) or you can walk in and choose from entrees available to make that day. There are up to 12 entrees each month to make!

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And there is so much more…

So, what are your plans for Mother’s Day? Or, better yet, what would your dream Mother’s Day look like?

Earth Day Miracle

April 23, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

In an effort to hopefully establish a better appreciation for the food on their plates the Easter Bunny brought the kiddos seed starting greenhouse kits for Easter. They were surprisingly really excited, which really shocked me because for Easter this year we went in a different direction. Instead of chocolate and jellybeans we went with organic snack mix and real fruit chewies. Oh, don’t feel too sorry for them, grandma and grandpa more than made up for the lack of candy at our house. Easter morning was beautiful! And I didn’t have to worry about a child possibly throwing up during Mass due to an overdose of chocolate….it was a joyous day! He has Risen!!

A week or so later, after the children had begged a half-dozen times to start their greenhouse kits we finally did. They were so adorable, each washed their hands, grabbed their shovels, gloves, and watering ducks to water their vegetables.

They had so much fun watching the pellets grow into dirt. They called it magic, haha! Then each carefully sowed each seed and tenderly placed the germination sheet over their seeds.

The children were really good about not touching the kit that first week. They wanted their seeds to stay warm. Then after a week and a half or so we glanced at them. And what we found was disappointing. We found nothing. We glanced the next day and the next. Still Nothing! The children were growing frustrated and each started to blame the other for doing something that caused the seeds not to grow. It started to get ugly in this house. One child claimed the other looked at the dirt the wrong way. While the disgruntled dirt looker claimed the other child gave the seeds a cold. Then the child who allegedly gave the seeds a cold blamed the other for moving the sun. You get the idea. Things were bad. What was supposed to be a fun way for our family to come together and appreciate what God and this earth provides for us evolved into a sun moving, dirt hating, and cold giving blame game! Then things went from bad to worse.

On day 15 I went to check on our seeds. But this time was different. I removed the germination sheet and something was growing! Something soft, almost furry like was growing. Mold! We successfully grew mold!! I didn’t know what to do. What would I tell the children? I decided to tell them the truth and let them down as best I could. Funny thing happened though, they still had faith. They still had faith that even after nearly a month of waiting and a nice layer of mold now covering the dirt that those seeds would sprout. As they exclaimed, we just need to pray. I had lost my faith but thanks to theirs I kept the greenhouse starter kits out and humored the children during their bedtime prayers.

The next day a seed had indeed sprouted. Imagine that! If the children had not had their faith I was going to get rid of the starter kits. It is almost as if all the knowledge and experience we have as adults can infringe on our faith at times, causing us to doubt. And then you have the souls of young babes who do not go by logic or reason but faith.

While the tomatoes took off growing the sweet peppers have done nothing. That is until today, Earth Day! The kiddos check their plants every morning and today they let out a yelp. A sweet pepper seed has finally sprouted, weeks after the package said it would.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it shall happen.

Matthew 21:21

Case in point

April 20, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

The other day I was in the kitchen totally rockin my ‘mom uniform’ (yoga pants, tank tops, and a ponytail) while preparing dinner. Our eldest was doing her homework, son was on the computer, and toddler was hosting an impromptu tea party. It was peaceful and quiet, for all of five minutes. Then the phone rang. And instantly the kiddos jumped to action. As if the ring of a phone symbolized a call to action, like a drill or warning. But this was no drill, suddenly a full on game of follow the leader evolved and unbeknownst to me, I was the leader!

Like all moms, multitasking is simply a byproduct of the job. So while I chatted I continued with dinner, laundry, spot cleaning the floors, etc. I walked from the kitchen up the stairs, back downstairs, to the basement; you get the idea, and all the while with three little shadows. It is a wonder we did not trip over each other.

As I hung up the phone two things crossed my mind. Confusion, I know I just had a conversation with someone on the phone but what exactly did it regard? Did I just agree to go somewhere, or do something? All this multitasking is quite distracting. And secondly, my pre-mommy days when I had all the time in the world but didn’t know it…before I was ever introduced to yoga pants…ponytails were only acceptable when working-out, and I could have an uninterrupted conversation on the phone and recall every word!

Sure I miss those days sometimes. But I would NEVER go back; as exhausting and lonely as motherhood can be at times I am addicted! Also, I have come so far since those days. I have a clear understanding of what is important in life. I have grown to appreciate my authentic self and that is something I will never give up, not even for youth, though it is nice to channel my pre-mommy days from time to time.

Thus, on occasion, in order to remind myself that I am more than the household cook, cleaning lady, chauffer, etc. I like to put on something nice, or basically, not yoga pants. Do my hair, and then grab the iPad and give it a little makeover too. I shed the iGuy case that screams ‘I am a mom’ and replace it with my sassy pink case that says ‘who’s that lady?… Totally not a mom that’s for sure’.

Oh la la…no way those nails do the dishes, right!?

Look at me being all sophisticated. Well, almost…busted! Shhh….I am playing hide-n-seek. Like I said multitasking is a byproduct of motherhood.

So, if you are looking for an easy way to feel sophisticated while in the throes of motherhood give your iPad a makeover….checkout all the fancy garb for your iPad here!

So what do you do to give yourself a break from motherhood?

Ridemakerz Extreme Customz party!

April 16, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

We started off the fun with each child receiving their very own Xtreme Customz starter kit! There were so many awesome cars to choose from including, Dodge Viper, Chevy corvettes, and “Hero” Ridez like Spider-Man and Batman, Extreme Customz clearly has a favorite for everyone!

The boys had so much fun putting their cars together, the moms on the other hand, not as much. But thankfully we did have a dad in the crowd to help out. I personally feel that the Xtreme Customz Cars are the perfect bonding experience for Dads and Sons; dads simply seem to speak the “car language” better than most moms.

Seconds after the boys assembled their Ridez they had them on the hardwood floor racing. As they raced the children started to take note of each other’s cars and the cool features each car had. To add to the fun the kiddos then had the opportunity to make Xtreme Scenez!

Each child created their very own scene for their Ride. It was adorable watching these little boys let their imaginations run wild. Each was given a shoe box, construction paper, glue stick, markers, etc. and what they created from those components included a speedway track, a city scene, a couple of junk yards, and more. After working so hard on creating their Xtreme Scenez the boys were parched so we ended the evening with a sweet treat, Xtreme Punch and Off-road Dirt cups, tasty!

I thought about having the snacks ready to go but where is the fun in that? So, instead the boys used their cars to help mash-up the dirt to place in their pudding, they had a blast! Here is a clip from the evening….

We had such a wonderful time. A special thank you to MommyParties for presenting this fun opportunity and to Ridemakerz Extreme Customz for sponsoring the fun!

If you are in search of the perfect gift for a boy age 5-8 I highly recommend these, you can check out Xtreme Customz line website and also sold in Target and Toys R Us stores, Xtreme Customz is only $9.99!

Also, moms make certain you take a second to sign up at MomSelect to host rad MommyParties like this one!

Disclosure: We were given 10 Ridemakerz Extreme Custmz cars to share with our party guests. All opinions expressed are my own.