March 2011

My adorable kids!

March means Miriam and I get to celebrate our shared birthday!  This year, we had banana cream pie.  I vote we have pie every year from now on.  Not only is it easier and faster to make than cake, but we all like pie better anyway.

My Aunt Marjie surprised me this year!  She sent me an edible chocolate bouquet.  Bananas, apples, grapes, strawberries, and oranges dipped in amazing chocolate!  It is a good thing I had the whole family to share with.  There must have been at least 100 pieces.  

Has anyone ever participated in a Flat Stanley activity in school?  The kids received a Flat Stanley from their cousin, Melissa with a request to take pictures doing something with Stanley, and mail it on to someone else.  For our activity we watched one of the Harry Potter movies.  

Laundry Solutions

The first time it happened, I promised myself I would never tell - let alone blog it.

The second time it happened, it was so much worse, I had to find help to clean up the mess.  In my google search for a solution, I discovered it wasn't so unusual as I had previously thought.

You see, I was doing laundry today, just like I always do.  The kids (finally) brought me their dirty clothes, and I dumped them into the washing machine.  When it finished, I ran them through the dryer, and then dumped them out into the clean clothes baskets where they will sit until someone decides to fold laundry.  (no telling how long that can sometimes take.)  Batches of laundry go round and round in the cycle as fast as I remember to reload the washer.  It never ends.  Laundry is never done.

Today, I opened the washer after the cycle finished to find the kind of mess I never wanted to find.  No, I didn't wash a Sharpie, or Chap-stick, or Kleenex.  Those are messy, but not the ultimate messy.  Even if it had been a really red or black clothing item that leaked dye all over everything else, I would have cheered compared to this mess.  Dye is easy to rinse out with another rinse cycle and 1 cup of white vinegar.

Today I found the clothes in the washing machine completely covered in tiny clear/white beads.  I mean millions and billions of beads.  You are right to think it wasn't the kind of beads you string on a necklace or bracelet.  These beads are far worse.  They soak up liquids, are sticky, slimy, and are supposed to be contained within a pull-up.  That's right.  I washed my son's pull-up.  This time, it exploded after absorbing all the wash water it could hold and sprinkled the absorbent beads evenly over every piece of fabric in the washing machine.  Not an inch was spared.  A complete and absolute mess.  And to think, on top of it, the pull-up was probably  full of pee to begin with.  EEEWWWWW!

At least the first time it happened, I found a HUGE pull-up that did not explode.  All I had to do was remove it and rewash the load.  Easy.  But not this time.

I considered drying the clothes anyway, hoping the heat would dehydrate the beads and they would be swept away in the vent.  No.  I don't want to do that.  What if it gummed up my dryer?

I considered shaking out the clothes outside.  No.  It would take too long.

Could it rinse out?  I decided to give it a try.  I started the cycle over, without soap, and added some vinegar just for good luck.

Then came my moment of enlightenment as I typed these search words into google:

"pull-up in washing machine"

go ahead.  Try it.  you won't believe how many mom's have done it.  NOT on purpose, but by accident.  They all thought they checked each item of clothing as it went in the washer, but happened to miss their child's pull-up stuck inside a rare, non-inside-out pajama bottom.  Of course there are the pull-ups PUT IN THE DIRTY CLOTHES by the children themselves.  That's another story.

So, I scanned each google result (and plee for help),  to find a solution to my BIG MESS.  And then I found it!  I want to thank L.W., a Mom who posted her answer on momapedia.  You saved my laundry.

Here is how she promises to get rid of the exploded diaper/pull-up mess in the washing machine...

"QUICK AND EASY SOLUTION!!! 
Use an entire container of table salt (the kind you refill the salt shakers from, about 89 cents ...) in your washer with the clothes, re-run the washer cycle with the salt in there(no detergent). If you tightly packed the washer with clothes, it may take two cycles of this. Salt is a desiccant, it will chemically break the bonds holding the gel together, causing it to dissolve and be washed away harmlessly. :)
Best of luck, from a mom who's done this more times than she cares to recount!"

Guess what!  After reading this, I dumped a whole container of salt into the running washing machine. After the first cycle, the beads were 75% gone.  After a second cycle, with another full container of salt, ALL the beads were gone.  

What I find interesting is the large quantity of suds in the water during the first salt cycle when I didn't add any detergent.  It made me wonder if it was extra soap in the clothes that didn't rinse out, or worse, the soapy water (initially soaked up on the first cycle) now released from the beads as they dissolved in the salt water. 

So now you know what to do next time you accidentally wash a pull-up - or diaper - or nursing pad, etc..  Just add a whole container of salt, and repeat as necessary.  And don't feel embarrassed about it.  Just read google.

What's worse than washing a pull-up?  Some frugal suggestion I read today suggested washing non-poopy, used swim diapers in the washing machine to re-use.  That Mom claimed it works - and doesn't explode.  

Not me.

No me like...

Some days my kids are really cute.

Take this day, for example.  The kids got all the characters from the nativity set and lined them up like a train. It's the same thing they do with all their cars.  Cute.

On January 3rd, 2011, contrary to popular opinion, Olivia was not cute.

I was putting Christmas decorations away and when I got to the nativity set, I couldn't find the baby Jesus.  My nativity set is a Fisher Price Little People Nativity set.  It usually sits under the Christmas tree all mixed up in a box overnight, and it is played with all day.  It is kid proof and I love that the kids can touch it without breaking it.  Sometimes I have to remind the kids not to throw the pieces through the kitchen, or down the hall, or to the bottom of the stairs. 

For the past few years we have always been able to find all the pieces. 

Until this year.

On January 3rd, I was taking the Christmas tree down and putting all the decorations away.  The baby Jesus was missing.  I looked everywhere I could think of.  I asked the kids to help look for the baby Jesus.  I sent them to look in their rooms, and behind the T.V.  I ordered them to dig through the shoe closet, and crawl behind the couches.  Still no baby Jesus. 

Then, I asked Olivia if she had seen the baby Jesus.  Her answer?  "no me like the baby Jesus, Mom.  I throw him way."  WHAT?  Where?  Olivia proudly walked to the garage door and pulled it open.  She hung on to the doorknob with one hand, and with the other, pointed to the stinky garbage can where we throw dirty diapers and pull-ups.  "In there, Mom" she announced.

I was MAD.  Quickly I sorted through the diapers, but could not find the baby Jesus.  Next I walked outside to check the big dumpster.  I looked through the whole frozen pull-up/ diaper mess and still no baby Jesus.

Olivia was not cute.  And since she is only 2 years old, she doesn't understand how bad a decision it was to throw away the baby Jesus.  I mean, how do you have a nativity without the main character?


........ Fast-forward 1 1/2 weeks ........

As I was blow-drying my hair to get ready in the morning, Emily interrupted me with important news.  "Guess what I found, Mom!"  Emily held out her hand and I was shocked to see the baby Jesus in her open palm.  "Where did you find him?"  I asked.  Her answer?  "In the box I keep my extra hair elastics in the back of the bathroom closet."  (and that box is rarely used or ever gotten out.)

I have no idea how the baby Jesus got there, except that sometimes the kids like to play hide-and-seek, and when I'm not watching, they hide in the closet.  I try to keep them out so they don't knock all the towels off the shelves onto the floor.  The closet is only wide enough for one folded towel.  I avoid putting anything else besides towels in the closet because it is so inconvenient to get things in or out.  Only a small child could fit in the closet.  Emily's box is usually stuffed in the small space under the bottom shelf.  I guess someone decided it was a good place to hide the baby Jesus.  I'm glad he is back.

And what do we learn from this story?

Either my two-year old can lie convincingly,
or I am really gullible.

last week of 2010

After Christmas, we had a busy week.

First, we went shopping so the kids could pick out their gifts from their grandparents who sent gift cards.  Miriam debated a long time before choosing foam curlers.  She was patient when I put them in her hair, but sleeping on the curlers was not comfortable.  In the morning, she had curls Shirley Temple would be proud of, but they really bothered Miriam.  We fixed it by taming the volume into cute pigtails.

My dad came to visit us, bringing really fun toys.
One of them is a toy every little boy needs.
You can get your own at http://www.blutrack.com/

Have you ever wondered what will happen to your walls if you send lots of cars down the stairs?

Michael's parents sent us money for Christmas that we used to have a play day with the kids.
This year, we started out at:

which made the kids really really happy.  We got there at 11:00 and had the play area to ourselves for a half an hour before more kids arrived.  After we ate, we drove to the movie theater to watch:

We were second in line to see the movie and had to wait 20 minutes before entering the theater.  We got seats without chairs in front of us, so the kids could see more easily.  Before the previews even started, every child was required to make a mandatory bathroom trip to get rid of all that soda they drank at McDonalds.

Everyone loved the first 30 minutes.  Joshua especially loved the Cars 2 preview.  Emily and Miriam laughed and giggled throughout the whole show.  Adam sat quietly and stared.  Olivia was good as long as she could sit on her daddy's lap.  Joshua was a tornado.  He started in his chair, but when the candy ran out, he climbed into my lap.  Then, after an hour, he collapsed in a moaning heap on the floor.  Yes, you read right.  The theater floor.  It wasn't sticky yet, because it was early afternoon, but still the thought of my child rolling on the floor of the movie theater is awful.  Joshua had had enough of the "girly show" to last the entire day.  I tried tickling his back to calm him down, but it didn't help.  At one point, near the end of the movie, Joshua stood up and started chanting, "I hate this movie, I hate this movie!" And then my hand was clamped over his mouth.  He stopped his noise, and we endured the rest of a great movie.  I recommend it to everyone - except 4 year old boys named Joshua.

On New Year's Eve we went sledding.

It was below freezing outside, so we bundled the little kids in snow pants in addition to coats, hats, cloves, and boots.  Everyone had fun except Olivia.  She got too cold.

Michael and I took turns sitting in the van with her and watching the kids slide down the hill.  Olivia loved watching from the van where there was no wind.  You can hear her cheer her sisters on in this video:

The parent who wasn't in the van with Olivia took turns helping the boys go down the hill, and climb back up.  On the last run, our big inflatable tube, that holds more than one person got a 6" gash that instantly deflated the whole ride.  That's why it was the last run.

I think the boys need to ask Santa for their own sleds next year.

We put the boys and Olivia to bed at the normal time on New Year's eve, and let Emily and Miriam stay up as late as they wanted - until midnight.  We ate dip, had pie, played our new Christmas games, and watched a scary movie.  (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)  After an afternoon sledding, I'm surprised they were able to stay awake until midnight.

More visitors and another nativity

We have been so blessed this month with countless visits from many friends.  Some of them handed me boxes, bags, and cute treats.  Some of them were secret friends who rang the doorbell and then ran, leaving surprises on our porch.  I'm sure none of them will ever know how much they have blessed our lives through their thoughtfulness.  Those simple, secret, and inspired acts of kindness were an amazing miracle and answer to prayers.  I sometimes wish I could thank each and every person who brought something to our home, but I don't know who they are.  I am confident that Heavenly Father will reward them openly.

One of the secret friends brought us 6 days of Christmas.  For 6 days before Christmas, a small package appeared on our doorstep.  Inside we would find a nativity character and a scripture or quote about that character, and rolled up paper money.

Thank you, thank you.  You know who you are - even if I don't know.

Christmas

This year's Christmas Eve was my favorite Christmas Eve ever.  After a turkey dinner, and ice cream for dessert, the kids announced they had a Christmas play for us.  They wrote it themselves, and practiced all day.  We weren't allowed to watch the practices, but we heard the singing as they got ready.  They even chose their own costumes.  (Miriam, the angel, has a pink belt on her head and she is wearing a white shirt.  Emily, as Mary, has random pieces of fabric tied around her body.  Adam, playing the part of Joseph, got away with being himself.)  So after dinner, we all filed downstairs where they had the room set up.  Michael and I held Olivia and Joshua on our laps, and my sister, Jenny, sat next to us at one end of the room.  Not knowing what to expect, I pushed record on my camera anyway.  Here is a short clip of the beginning.  (scroll to the end of this post for the long version that is about 5 minutes long and includes the girls singing more Christmas songs that tell the story of the birth of Christ.)  We thought it was amazing!

Just like the story from the bible, Joseph did everything the angel told him to do.


After the play, we read the scripture version of the birth of Christ, had our own testimony meeting, and sang Christmas songs together.

Last thing before bed, the kids opened their new pajamas.  Here they are:

And finally, a Christmas Eve first!  Miriam did not have any problems with her pajamas this year!!!!!!!!   No screaming, stomping, yelling, crying.  I didn't have to sew or hem anything to fix pajamas that were too long!  Miriam loved her soft pajamas and nothing itched!  I wish I could buy about 100 of these nightgowns in every size possible.

Even Jenny got a new shirt from Lori and Michele.  I hear it was to tease my kids.

Christmas morning was a little different this year.

The kids all begged to have breakfast BEFORE opening presents.  Really?  They were all up by 6:30, and we   made the whole traditional breakfast.  Sausage ring with the mushroom sauce, orange rolls, monkey bread, scrambled eggs, oranges, juice, and milk.  Everyone ate lots.  No one complained about not opening presents, but Joshua paced the hallway during the hour it took to cook breakfast.  He was lost as to what he could do that didn't involve opening presents.  

Everyone got dressed before opening presents, so there are no cute pajama pictures except Emily, who stayed in her PJ's.

Some of our favorite gifts are:

Olivia loves her hand-me-down dress-ups from her sisters.  She can dress up all day long, and Miriam loves to help Olivia in and out of each outfit.

Joshua just loves everything.  If it is wrapped up, he HAS to open it.  Of course, if the present inside has wheels, even better.

Adam is our only child we ask to yell.  He is so quiet we can't hear him.  Santa brought him a megaphone/voice changer toy.

Adam has never made so much noise!

I never would have expected Miriam to love her hopper as much as she does.  She is on it all the time.  She would prefer to use it as a chair at the table if I let her.  

Emily has been begging and begging for something called scripture cards.  She wants to learn the stories better.  I had an extra gospel art picture kit that used to be my mothers.  We put the pictures into a binder with page protectors.  The backs of the pictures are visible so Emily can read the stories.  Her HUGE smile was worth it!  

Santa brought us two fun new games.  Qwirkle and Blokus.  Great for 8 and 10 year old kids, and fun for the parents too.

I loved this gift my sister gave the kids.  Bed sheets in their favorite colors!  The kids opened the boxes at the same time.  Each kid saw their favorite colors, reached in and grabbed their set!  I couldn't have planned it better myself.  Later, during Joshua's bath, he told me how excited he was to have his bed all orange.

It was a fun day at home playing with all the new toys.

The only reason we have pictures at all is that aunt Jenny takes pictures on Christmas morning for us.  We are in them all, but I didn't get one of Jenny, except for her new shirt.  Thanks Jenny.

So what was the favorite toy???

Here's your hint:  It only cost $1.00, was small enough to fit in Adam's stocking, and it wasn't my idea.  In fact, I tried to veto it, but I was overruled.

How about video?

Adam:

Joshua:

Olivia:

Adam discovered that when he jumped on the whoopie cushion too hard, it exploded.  It was fun while it lasted.

If you want to see the long version of the kid's Christmas play, here it is: