A Startling Realization

Remember when you had your first baby? Your second baby? Your third, fourth, or fifth? No? I do. I also remember how everyone said, "Cherish these days. they will go so fast, and you will miss them when they are gone."

Well, I guess if you only have one child, "these days" tend to go very fast. if you have five... not so much.

I came to the startling realization this week that "these days" are finally over.

Last weekend we drove to the far side of the state to go to some really cool water slides. Me, and my five kids. Just us, no dad. I realized that all of my kids were old enough to play without my constant supervision. Even the youngest of my kids was told, "I am going to go ride this ride. You stay here." And he did.

Then, just yesterday, we walked in our town's parade. I just walked. two of my kids watched, and three of them walked with our group. I didn't have to hold any one's hand. I didn't even worry that they would get lost. I just handed out business cards for MOPs and chatted to people I knew along the way.

I guess "these days" are over. They were exhausting, and I think it will be a REALLY long time before I miss them.

Here's The Skinny:

I am fat. I weigh as much or more now than I ever did pregnant.
I have made a couple of lifestyle changes recently. First, I gave up caffeine. Not because caffeine itself is so bad (it is), but because I only like my caffeine loaded with sugar. No more pop or foofoo coffee for me.
The second change is that I was given an elliptical machine and I have been using it almost daily for at least 25 minutes, for the last 2 1/2 months.
So, the reason I am even telling you this is that I need some suggestions. I want to start Weight Watchers again as I have had success with their "points" system in the past, but I get SOOO incredibly bored with diet food. I would like your suggestions about what to eat that won't keep me fat!
Ah, and one more thing- I am not a short order cook, so whatever I make, everyone has to eat. I don't have incredibly picky kids (well, they don't eat hot dogs or plastic cheese), but they do have limitations.
OK, leave me a comment!

Friends

And Then She Was Eight

Seems like two weeks ago, we were doing this:

When really, we were doing this:

Happy Birthday, Abigail!

Maid Service For Under $10

I know they should do it anyway, but sometimes my kids just need a little extra incentive- especially when they have friends over. The beauty of this system is that everyone participates.

I don't really care who I give the money to as long as the jobs are done.

This is a great system for kids ages 3 to about 10 years old.

Start with a big jar.

Write all the jobs you want done on slips of paper.

They cannot be "Clean the living room," but. rather they should be components of a larger job. Therefore, "clean the living room" becomes:

"Put away things that don't belong in the living room"

"vacuum living room rug"

"sweep living room"

"dust living room"

Each job is worth a quarter. The amount of money each kid makes is determined by the speed they work.

Jonah quit when he had 2 quarters. He's 5. I guess 50 cents was enough for him.

One of the friends decided she wanted a dollar, so she did 4 jobs.

Eventually, everything got clean.

And then we had ice cream.

Speaking Of Expectations

This yumminess was brought to the table by my very capable 12 year old.

He used this recipe- mostly.

I did not help in any way.

That is why we had dinner at 9pm.

But, it sure was good. And, by that time, it tasted even better because we were all so hungry.

We all decided that we did not like the bok choy because it was too bitter. The next time we do it, we will use spinach.

You Are Genius. And, I Love You For It.

A love letter to the absolute genius behind Oxi-Clean;

Dear sir or Madam,

Marry me!

I have long been a fan of your original Oxi-Clean, buying it in bulk from my local Costco. I was especially fond of your powdery goodness when my children were in diapers. Any leak or downright explosion could be easily rectified. The small stained clothing was simply placed in the bucket of Oxi-water solution I kept in the laundry room until the next time I washed laundry. The last task of laundry was to create a new, clean bucket of Oxi-water. Alas, we have outgrown the need for a bucket of Oxi-water, but our love affair with Oxi-clean lives on.

Imagine, if you will, a bathroom that I rarely enter. A bathroom that I avoid at all costs. Against my better judgement, I pulled back the shower curtain in said bathroom and nearly fainted. Let me just say that I have seen cleaner service station bathrooms. And then I saw the commercial for Kaboom Foam.

Marry me.

Kaboom Foam cleaned that disgusting mess as easily as the commercial showed. Sprays on blue, turns white, wipe, rinse. And it smells good, too!

So, from a grateful housewife, I have just one request:

Marry me? Pretty Please?

P.S. Feel free to send me a lifetime supply of your fabulous products for this completely unsolicited endorsement. My lifetime, not yours.