Weird Timing

There is this weird thing that has happened with each of our kids when they were getting ready to turn 6 months old. 
The Genius got a real bad flu bug.  She was so sick that we had to take her to urgent care.  It was short lived but no fun.
The Hippie was 6 days shy of turning 6 months old and she started coughing and breathing funny.  We took her in and she ended up getting emergency breathing treatments.  We brought her home with a nebulizer and had to wake her every 2 hours to give her breathing treatments. 
The Professor will be turning 6 months old very soon and Tuesday night we ended up taking him to the ER.  He had minor symptoms...drainage and a cough.  But he was so hot, not nursing and was very lethargic.  He had a fever of 103.8 when we took him in.  They ran a bunch of tests but it ended up being a plain ole' virus.  He is still trying to get 100% better.
My mom said maybe it is like a rite of passage for our kids.  I just think it is very weird.  Certainly a "tradition" I could live without.
Feel better soon Professor! Mommy wants to hear you laugh.

Top 10 of 2010

I have seen other bloggers picking their best posts from 2010.  How fun is that?  I thought I would do the same here.  These are NOT in any particular order, just posting them as I go.


1. The Queen
Because I will never forget my reign as the Queen.

2.It's a...
I can never forget this moment

3.Rainbows and stuff
Totally random cute kid moment that I would have forgotten without this blog.


4. An anniversary
A bittersweet day and a reminder to not take life with your loved ones for granted.

5. Guess who is here?
The Professor is born!

6.Funny stuff
You know you live with a boy when....

7. BIG Day
First day of public school

8. Cute pics
The Hippie is just the cutest kid!

9. Progress!
A reason to celebrate is always great!

10. Merry Christmas
A special gift.

I could keep on choosing, but will stop with 10.  Enjoy!

Welcoming Wednesday #5 - Meet Mandee

I have really enjoyed doing these interviews and I hope you have too.  My last one for the year is with Mandee.  She has a cute blog and very cute boys.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you are excited about starting the year 2011.  Enjoy the interview!

1.  Can you tell me about your family?
I would LOVE to tell you about my family! My husband and I have been together for 14 years. We have been married for 11 years. Just 3 months after we got married we got pregnant with our first child. We now have 5 BOYS ages 10, 7, 5, 2 and 4 months. I am a stay at home Mom, which has been great for my family. There are days with 5 boys that I want to put some earplugs in, but there is never a day that they don't make me laugh! God has chosen me to be a Mother of boys and I am definitely up for the challenge!

2.  What is the best part about being a mommy of five boys?  
Being Mommy of 5 boys is very rewarding. I feel very blessed, and I have actually put "Blessed with Boys" at the top of my blog since that is how I feel. I would have to say the best part is the FUN that goes on in our house! I have a house full of a bunch of little clowns...he he! :)

3.  What made you decide to start a blog?  
I started blogging just a year ago. A couple of people around me had been talking about it, and it was mentioned that I should start a blog to share all of the Funny things my boys say and do with the world. I knew that there were some that wouldn't understand, but there is always someone out there that can relate, and that is why I started my blog, because I wanted to find that person that could relate and make them smile and say, I get it! (If you get a chance you must read my first blog post-July of 2009)

4.  Are you doing anything special during the holidays (either for your blog or for your family)?
I have decided this year that I am not going to do the blog event that I had planned to do. It is a lot of work, and while I want to give my fans great freebies I have decided that I need some time to relax and enjoy my family this holiday season. There will however still be new giveaways on my blog every day! My family and I will be celebrating the holidays together with our extended family. It should be a nice, relaxing holiday season this year. :)

5.  Please share a favorite holiday tradition or memory that you have.
We are actually just starting a new tradition with our children that I am very excited about. Since we open presents on Christmas morning, this year we will let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve, their new pajamas! They can wear these pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve and look spiffy in all of those pictures that Mom insists on taking of them on Christmas morning. I am excited to see how the kids like this and know that they will be excited to just be opening a gift a day early! Another thing that my children always look forward to is their letters from Santa every year. They have already received them this year and were so excited! This is something really special that the boys look forward to every year! 

 You can find Mandee on her blog Raising My 5 Sons or on facebook.  I hope you will check her out and read about her adventures with 5 wonderful boys.

CSN Review

Awhile back I did a review for CSN stores.  In return I received a $35 credit to use.  We decided to get some boots. 

These are even better in person.  They are lined with ultra soft material.  They fit like a glove and are so warm.  If you have any post-holiday shopping to do keep CSN Stores in mind!

A Very Special Christmas

This was an amazing Christmas. We are so blessed!  My husband has been unemployed for 7 months now.  We only had $100 to spend on our entire Christmas.  We did not get anything for each other.  We wanted to spend it on the kids.  We got a small toy from Goodwill for the Professor and got the girls legos and board games from Craigslist.  After that we had some coupons to get some free items and I had a leftover gift card to get PJs for the kids.  That was all were going to have.  Then one very special friend and her kids went and sent us a HUGE box of gifts.  In it were clothes, mittens, hats etc.... She let me wrap them and we said they were from her daughter (who is friends with our girls).  Then another special friend and her husband and son sent us a gift card and told to get something for each of us.  Then there was the local church that contacted us and gave us food and clothes for the kids and some toys too!  Then my in-laws gave us money and my parents spoiled us with presents.  I cannot believe that all these people came together and enabled us to have an amazing Christmas.  Thank you all!!!!

The Genius Plays Piano

Last Sunday evening the youth did the evening service at our church.  Click HERE to see our oldest daughter play a piano solo! We were beyond proud of her.  If you have followed our journey with their Selective Mutism you will understand why. 

Meanwhile, it is Christmas Eve.  Our kids are all snuggled up in their beds.  Christmas pjs have been opened and all 3 are enjoying soft, new pjs.  The Christmas story has been read and the nativity set up. Hope you are enjoying the peace of Christmas Eve as well!

Christmas Cakes

The past few years I have bought a DIY Gingerbread House kit.  The girls have had great fun putting it together.  They wanted to do it again, but I wanted to try something different.  Here is what we came up with.  We made Christmas Tree Cakes.  I let them do it ALL! They cracked the eggs, mixed the batter, iced their OWN cakes...everything.  Here is the cake the Genius made.

Here is the Hippie's version.

These two cakes came from this.....

And resulted in this...

And this......

What are your kiddos up to today?

Merry Christmas to ME!

Guess what?  I am an approved milk donor for Helping Hands Milk Bank!!!!  I received the news yesterday while we were out and about.  To say I am excited is an understatement.  I am thrilled!  I am also very humbled.  It absolutely amazes me that something so simple, can be used to help babies all across the U.S.  I truly do feel humbled and honored to be a part of the process.  We were discussing this with the girls.  I was explaining that this was what I wanted for my Christmas present.  I have donated blood before and was telling them it was similar.  The oldest said, "Wow Mommy! It is like you are a secret Santa to little babies!"  That about describes it!   I am very, very excited.  When Helping Hands informed me I was a donor, I got a very thorough email detailing my next steps.  They give you two options.  1.  You can be a one-time donor of your frozen breastmilk. or 2. You can be an on-going donor.  I am going to be an ongoing donor, until the Professor weans himself.  My donor status will last 123 days.  I was able to email them back and place an "order" for my cooler.  They also are supplying me with milk storage bags.  Once I get my first cooler I can fill it up with all my frozen supply and ship it at their expense!  Seriously.  It is that easy!  Also included in my approval email was a list of what exactly happens to my milk after it arrives.  I enjoyed reading it, but here is the best part, and the only reason I am doing this...." If the milk passes all the tests, your thoughtful donation will be made into the only Human Milk Fortifier made from 100% human milk and Standardized Human Milk for use in NICUs around the U.S"  
I love it!  By January 1st, I should have my first shipment delivered!  You better believe I will post an update once I do.  Merry Christmas to ME!

Welcoming Wednesday #4 - Meet Sarah

I cannot believe how fast the month of December is going.  I only have one more interview planned.  I hate seeing them come to end.  This week you are meeting Sarah of Just 2 Cute Accessories.  She has a great Etsy shop.  You can also find her on facebook.  I hope you are ready to take a break from the business of the season and sit back and read this blog.  Sarah is really sweet and I want this for the Professor!

1.    Can you tell me about your family? 

I have been married to my college sweetheart for 6 years. We have two beautiful children together, my daughter who is three and my son who is 1. We live in San Diego with our 20 year old Cockatiel, a  fish, 5 hens and a rooster.


2. I know you have an Etsy shop, but how old were you when you started crafting?


I started crafting when I was old enough to hold a needle. I have always had a passion for crafting and creating. I have had my affairs with knitting, crocheting, and paper crafts but my first love has always been sewing.


3. What is your favorite item to make for your shop?


My favorite item in my store currently is the Snowflake Recycled wool soaker. Living in San Diego, this just might be the closest we get to snow this winter.

4. What is the most popular item that you sell? 


My most popular item is my Recycling Recycled wool soaker.  (See the picture at the top...it is what I want for the Professor!)


5. Are you doing anything special for the Holidays, either for your shop or for your family?


For my shop this season we have already completed our Black Friday weekend but there may be something coming up the day after Christmas.  Enter the code RAMBLINGS at checkout to get 10% off everything in the shop all day 12/26/10!!

This holiday season we are going back to basics and doing a homemade Christmas. My husband and I have been working hard the past couple of months creating Santa’s toys this year. I must say I was a little overwhelmed when we started thinking about it but it really has been fun and we have created some things that I think my kids will really enjoy. 


6. What is your favorite Holiday tradition?


I am looking forward to spending lots of time with family and enjoying all of the magic of the holidays with my children. Happy Holidays!



In case you did not catch that....Sarah has generously offered my readers 10% off EVERYTHING in her store all day on December 26th! Enter code "RAMBLINGS" at checkout.  My advice?  Use some of your Christmas money to buy some of these.

Adventures of a LIttle Brother on a Snow Day Part 2

Adventures of a LIttle Brother on a Snow Day Part 1

Winners!

WINNERS!

Cozy Kids Cloth Diaper 1 #18

lulusmama

I shared this giveaway on fb!
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Rebecca O
blynnobrien at yahoo dot com

Cozy Kids Cloth Diaper 2 #159

caedman

tweet
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richardrachel at hotmail dot com

Cozy Kids Cloth Diaper 3 #172

 Heather R

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thransom@gmail.com

Cozy Kids Cloth Diaper 4 #163

tannis

I'm a follower
tannis_z at excite dot com  

Congrats to all the winners!  You have 48 hours to contact me at cliffsgirl2001@yahoo.com with your name, address and preference of color on your diaper. (Your color choice is not guaranteed) . All winners were chosen through random.org

 

Pretzel Makers

Both girls have to take in treats for their Christmas parties at school this week.  I know that this was not an original idea, but it was tons of fun and the girls have requested this be an annual tradition.  We used baking chocolate, pretzel rods and various sprinkles.  The finished products will be wrapped in celophane, tied with ribbons and have name tags attached.  For their teachers they will have a bundle of five rods.  We had a lot of fun making these...even the Professor got in on the action!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Enjoy the pics.