Mommy is Aging with Honor

This mama is aging and it seems to be at blazing speed. I'm speaking for myself when I say, "there is no question that having kids especially the twins, has truly sped up the aging process." I look at photos of myself just prior to kids and compare them to recent photos (BTW I don't advise doing this) and think to myself, "What happened and when?" Of course, I can't blame it all on motherhood and the sleepless nights that comes with it. There's also those days when I thought I was invincible that lead to sun damage and the hip smoking (not!) during those early years in college. I'm sure they played a role in this high speed aging. But, when you're twenty something, looking fabulous with your bronzed skin (hours at the beach followed by tanning booth visits) and feel like you're all grown up and sophisticated, smoking that menthol cigarette (ahem, yes embarrassing but true) you're not thinking, "hmm I might regret this when I'm a 39 yr old mama, with less than flawless skin." Also, lets not forget the countless ailments that have possessed my body in my thirties. Illness too, will take it's toll that no exorcism is going to correct. I still believe it was motherhood's insomnia that opened the flood gates on my aging child-bearing body.

Be what it may, it's time to accept that "lost youth" and love myself as is. I've seen advertisements for "mommy makeovers" and feel myself repulsed. Motherhood should be a proud moment! Why should I be made to feel ashamed about my less than perfect body. Of course I've fallen prey to some of this. I'm guilty for donning the "mommy swimsuit" and trying to find the perfect cosmetics that might be the secret to the "fountain of youth". Granted, I'm one of the lucky ones who didn't get stretch marks but I do have that tummy pooch, loose skin and deflated post breast feeding sacks that were once perky, oh and the melasma mask of pregnancy... these I call my badges of honor, honored to be a proud mommy of 3 gorgeous boys. So you marketing schmucks who think you're so clever giving cutesy names to what still amounts to invasive surgery, SHAME ON YOU!

Mac N' Cheese and Dinosaurs: A Discussion on Phases

Phase in, phase out, and sometimes phase back in... from foods to toys. I'm always excited when I find something the boys like to eat, yes something to add to the list. The only problem is, I never know if this is just a phase, will it come and go. There are certain foods that make the "A" list and seem to be permanent, like pizza and pancakes. Then there is others that phase in then phase out..the latest to make this list is Mac N'Cheese. I had found a recipe in Everyday Food that the kids really liked and I did too. It was this recipe called Southern Mac and Cheese, that used eggs and cheese to create sort of a custard. The best part was that it was also pretty easy to make. So I've made this several times and they've always eaten it up until tonight. Was it the broccoli I tried to slip in it this time? Always trying to find a way to get those veges in. Or is this truly a phase out item? The twins didn't want it at all, Aidan ate it but wasn't excited about it and made me pick out the broccoli, followed by 20 questions regarding why I would contaminate mac and cheese with a vege. I guess I won't be making mac and cheese for awhile now because it's always disappointing when you make something and your kids don't eat. However, it is a great recipe you might want to try it, it just might make your kids "A" list.



Just as foods phase, toys do too. Even the trains seem to be slowing down, I wouldn't say they're phasing out (don't imagine that will ever happen, it's an obsession) but they're just competing with other interests. We've gone through cars, cooking toys, puzzles, back to cars and now it's this dinosaur. This dinosaur has been in our house for a year now. When it first arrived there was some interest in it for a bit then it was forgotten. Lucky for "Dino" it's on the hot list again, even Jeremy (our cat) has begun to take interest. Of course, just as I was beginning to consider it was time to pass it on to someone new.




Life comes in phases, some predictable and others unpredictable. We just go with the flow and it all seem to keep us happy.

Dinosaur Chopsticks or Slurp Slurp We're On The Mend

We were home bound for a week with a yucky virus that zapped our energy and left us with persisting fevers. Thankfully, we're on the mend. We had plenty of comfort soups and foods this week trying to soothe our tummies and recover our appetites. To add some fun to this the boys got to use their dinosaur chopsticks to slurp down some yummy udon noodles, a favorite in this household.

Quench it with a SIGG

"We believe that the invention of bottled water is about as smart as the Hummer. Did you know that 86% of plastic water bottles wind up as trash that takes over 1,000 years to biodegrade? Even if you're not ready to lay out big bucks for a hybrid car or solar panels, this one is a no-brainer – get a SIGG... we think it's the best reusable bottle on the market!" Jen Boulden (Leading voice in "living green", Co-founder of www.IdealBite.com, MBA in Environmental Policy and Management)

I've always struggled to get my boys to drink water, and have had to battle this many ways, most unsuccessful. I've given them watered down juice 1:4 ratio basically a bit of flavored water. I tried all kinds of sippy cups and straws to make drinking water fun. And of course, the never ending nagging, "Drink your water, drink your water, on and on... I bought these SIGG bottles early on, as one more step to "living green" and steering away from leaching plastics. The great thing is they've now become a hit with my kids and are drinking water, yay! The twins will ask "Where's my airplane?" When they first started this it was a puzzle to me, "what are they asking for, what airplane?" When I finally figured it out, I was thrilled to get it to them as quickly as possible and encourage them to drink the H2O!!

Our entire family drinks from SIGG bottles, we each have our own personal bottle. That's what's so great about these, there are so many designs to choose from. There's one for everybody. There's other brands out there too, like the Kleen Kanteen, personally I like the SIGG. Which ever you choose, save our planet and your health, make the switch from plastics.

Cooties Over Here

Well first it was Miles, then a day later it was Mommy, followed by Aidan and soon after Liam. We've all come down with fever, chills, nausea, some vomiting and a terrible cough. Surprisingly, Daddy is still holding strong. I took Miles to the doctor who also diagnosed him with an ear infection on top of the flu we currently have. It's so hard to believe a flu in August. So we've all been home, daddy stayed home from work today too to help, thank you! I don't think I could have managed by myself. Despite us being plagued by this awful virus, the boys managed to have some fun still. Liam decided an envelope makes the perfect new hat for him, this all gave us a little healing laugh.

Signage Begins

Aidan demanded that we help him make this sign so he can post it on his bedroom door. Let me remind you that he's not quite 5 yet....what comes next "Keep Out". I thought this kind of stuff didn't start til their teen years.

"Poop Rain"

Here's a bizarre one from Aidan...

"Mom if the birds are flying and they poop in the clouds, and if it then starts raining, then we'll get poop rain, right?"

Somtimes, it's hard to keep a straight face when answering some of these strange questions.