Oh, how I miss HM!--read more >>

1. Supermom complex--read more >>

1. Do you like your given name? Why or why not?
2. What is the first place you would travel to if money was not a concern?
3. What food could you eat everyday of your life?
4. What do you miss most about your former kid-free life?
5. What do you think your child or children will be when they grow up based on their interests and personality as of today?
6. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
7. As an adult, what do you want to be?

Heading to NYC next week for vacation and was wondering:
when taking cabs, do the kids just sit in parents' lap? What is the protocol for carseats and stuff? We are staying centrally located but this popped into my head this morning and thought this would be the best place to ask....

Haven't seen too much lately with school and work but a few I liked:
Death at a Funeral: I don't think I've laughed this hard in ages.
Broken English: with Parker Posey, love her in anything. Good movie.

For the kiddies:
National Velvet: It was on the other day and I sat and watched it with Ava, she loved it and sat through the whole thing. I may try some more old flicks with her. TCM channel does a Saturday night classic movie night designed for kids. Too bad I won't pay for that channel --read more >>

1. Stimulus check came today and I splurged and bought the girls and myself a Sigg water bottle. I couldn't really think of anything else that I wanted to spend it on...except getting my bathtub tiled.
2. Life getting easier. After being in babydom for three years, the girls are now able to play with each other and today was the first day that they played in the upstairs playroom for a whole 30 minutes without me having to referree. I almost pinched myself. They are becoming such good friends and although it was crazy at first, I'm so glad I had them so close together.--read more >>

We're not big gift givers but I wanted to get dh a little something as this past year has been a rough one and he has been an amazing partner on all fronts. I'm thinking of a pasta roller as he's mentioned it a few times...
What are you giving your SO's?

Home from work today because Lily has coxsackey--horrible, horrible--and going through my bills and have reached a point of disgust. I am so, so tired of never having enough money! Dh makes very, very good money but our bills seem to be never ending. We don't use credit cards for anything except emergencies, like unexpected car repairs, and live very simply. We budget well yet there never seems to be a surplus. I'm not asking to be rich, I just want to splurge on a nice dinner and not feel guilty about it!--read more >>

My 3 yo is screaming at the top of her lungs because she does not want to go to sleep but has been a sh*thead all night; really unacceptable behaviour. Trying so hard not to lose it while taking care of my 2 yo who has a high fever. Shit, this stuff is tough....breathe, breathe, breathe. Okay, vent mamas, thanks for listening

Ava is 3.5 and Lily is 2 and holy shit, they are demons right now. If I am not disciplining Ava for her fresh mouth, I am disciplining Lily for pulling her sister's hair, hitting, etc. I am so tired of trying to keep my cool, be positive, that this weekend, I lost it. Half of it was my frustration that since going back to work, I miss them terribly and I do not want to spend my time fighting with them; the other half is no matter if I'm at work or at home, I still want to raise good people and I do not want to fall into the trap of faltering as a parent because I feel guilty.--read more >>

freakinchillinmom had a post earlier that made me remember how much I love reading what these little beings come up with to say. So share some kid funnies. Here goes mine:

Last night, my mum bought the girls these hideous sparkly pink shoes and when Ava saw the things, she shouted, "Oh my goodness, they are so fascist!" She of course meant to say fashionable, but I love that she used the term fascist!

1. It is in the 70's here today and I am elated with excitement. The girls and I spent all day outside, I hung my laundry, and we had a picnic in the front yard.
2. We are all adjusting to life with me working. Next week I go from 3 full days to 5 full days, but I know it will be okay. The girls love their classrooms and I love my students. --read more >>

I've never been to the western part of the state and dh and I were thinking about heading out there over Memorial Day weekend. Can you mamas recommend any good lodgings, kid friendly of course. Also, anything we must see? The only thing on our agenda is to go to a cheese shop in Great Barrington, so dh can write off the trip as a business expense. Thanks for the help in advance.

Lily has asthma, pretty severe case, and I'm just wondering what, if any medications/treatments/homeopathic methods you mamas use. I am so uncomfortable dosing her up the way we have to and just thought I'd check here. Currently, she takes flovent twice a day (which I HATE giving her, but seeing her not breathing made me snap out of it), cingulair at night (yes, I know about the suicide side effects in adults), and Albuterol in an emergency. Thanks, mamas.

--read more >>

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And the best part, she pooped in the potty! I'm drooling at the prospect of not buying diapers anymore. For the past 3.5 years, we've been buying diapers...almost there!

So the girls' new school is nut free and A and L are rather picky little creatures. If A could, she would eat a PB&J for every meal, so not having it as an option, is a big deal. A dislikes macncheese (I know, weirdo)and gags on lunchmeat. So, I need some ideas. I brainstormed with A and she came up with
cream cheese and jelly for her and hummus and mustard for L. The latter being L's fave sandwich, making it makes my stomach turn. I love each separately, but the combo of garlicky hummus with yellow mustard...ugh.Funny the things these little monsters will eat.--read more >>

Ingredients:
Bunch of mustard greens washed and cut finely
4 hot italian sausages already cooked--most all natural sausages are fully cooked (or sweet if you're not fond of hot)
bulb of fennel
garlic
olive oil (enough to coat the pan)
chicken stock (I make my own, but Pacific makes a cheap, organic low sodium that is yummy)
can of white beans (my kids love the small ones Goya makes)
any kind of hard cheese to be grated into dish my favorite is paremesan reggiano but it is a bit costly so asiago or pecorino would be good as well
salt
pepper--read more >>

So, after much hemming and hawing, I've decided to take the teaching position I was offered. I am excited but also wracked with conflicting feelings. So, here I go:
1. I'm really having a hard time letting go of my little Lily. I never thought I would be like this, but losing the babies solidified the fact that I don't want to try and have more children and it is from this feeling that I am clinging on to my little one. Luckily, she is so independent, she shrugs me off which puts me back into reality, but the feelings are still lingering.--read more >>

But I think I may have a full time job! I went on an interview today at a new preschool in the area that is in desperate need of a teacher AND are able to take the girls at 40% off. Keep your fingers crossed for me, mamas...I really want this to work out. Many thanks in advance.

While sweating profusely at 5 am this morning at the gym, I was watching CNN and they said as of today, 4,000 Americans have been killed and "a rough guess" of 80,000 Iraqi citizens. --read more >>

To overly use the Easter basket theme just once more:
1. Despite all the magical HM vibes, I found out earlier in the week my beloved uncle has cancer of the kidney. Terrible yes, but he can live with one kidney. The bad thing is his pancreas is still not working. If you have any vibes to spare, send some his way.--read more >>

1. My uncle is on a slow path to recovery. Basically, his pancreas does not work so he has to change his whole lifestyle, but IMHO, it is much needed.
2. I was offered a full time job that I nearly jumped on, but after much agonizing, decided against it. To put both girls in childcare would cost us about $2k a month and it is just not worth it. It was a hard decision to make and I have moments in the day when I dream about working again, but I know it is not the right time. I was flattered,though, at the offer.--read more >>

Okay, when Ava turned 3, I thought we turned the corner on difficult behaviour but my god, now it has catapulted to another level. She has such a sassy attitude only enhanced by her fresh mouth. When this first started, I was very aware that she was copying some things she heard out of my own mouth like, "Ugh, I've had enough" "I can't stand this attitude" which she has since used with me. Her current favorite is, "Mummy, (big, dramaitic sigh) I've had enough of this.--read more >>

Update:--read more >>