The Blogger is Out!

I am over here today, giving away form Oral-B Stages tooth brushes! Head on over!

Don't Second Guess

Tonight, as Boo lay curled in my lap with a cough that came out of nowhere, I realized something so important.

I have no clue what I am doing half the time.

Not that it is a bad thing, it is fun at times to find the path and see where it all leads. But there are times where I am terrified that I am going to mess This up, that my kids will have long lasting effects of my crazy parenting.

There are times when I second guess myself. Am I doing the right thing by keeping Boo at her school (yes, by the way), am I doing the right thing by not listening to everyone Boo's doctor, should I really worry about Hunter's school or let his Mom handle it?

If I make this one little choice, how long will it affect my family? Will the backlash be great, or so minuscule that no one knows I even made the change?

There are so many "what if's" in life, so many different things that may or may not happen, that it would make a person crazy to think of them all. So what do we do instead, take it one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time. If we mess up, so be it. Learn, and move on. Taking the time to freak out about the possibilities in life does not help, though it may feel like it at first.

I spent the first three years of Boo's life playing the "what if" game, wondering if I was doing the right thing every minute of the day. I worried that she would get sick, get hurt, have hurt feelings, be bruised or broken. I spent so much time being a "helicopter parent" that I didn't watch her grow. I don't know if this is changing a lot, but now I know that I need let life happen.

I now know that I need to let her find her way, that I need to let Hunter ( to a point) find his as well. I need to not hover, need to let my second guesses stay with me. I need to show my children that even when you aren't sure, be confident in your choices and you will find the right one for you.

Going through life is hard, going through life as a mom is harder.

What I Learned this Week

I am a day behind on this, but still wanted to link up with Musings of a Housewife's What I Learned This Week party. So, let's begin shall we!

- Know what's worse than a sleep walking Boo...a SASSY ATTITUDE filled sleep walking Boo. I laughed, because it is sort of funny.

- Trying to clean your house, while you husband is framing in your bathroom, the kids are "helping" and the dog is running around like a crazy person doesn't really work.

- The grocery store is REALLY quiet at 1 am on a Saturday.

- If you beg enough, you just might get your name "drawn" for your child's field trip. Just maybe.

- Having the chance to see the play you were in as a child WITH your child, will make you bed, plead and borrow. Just saying...

- A total of 40+ leaf bags is what it took to clean our yard.

- It is not fun having to explain your self over and over and over again.

That's it, it wasn't that big of a week.

Head on over to Musings of a Housewife for more What I Learned This Week posts.

Boo's Sleep

I have been AWOL the past week...again.

Not intentional at all. I haven't been feeling the greatest, was drained from the meeting at Hunter's school and trying to reclaim my disaster of a house. Oh, and Boo isn't sleeping...again. That is my favorite thing EVER (insert sarcasm/tears/head banging here).

We are heading back to the doctor next week sometime to follow up with Boo's doctor about her sleeping "issues", we are the max end of her sleeping meds. I am close to wits end, and had a mini-melt down on Tuesday. I thought, at that point, that I was going crazy, that her sleeping problems were all in my head. I cried to Hubby, talking about it made me feel even worse. Let's set the scene...

Tuesday night I was talking to a friend about our upcoming trip to Chicago. We were planning a "planning meeting" (where we sit for two hours and make plans for MAYBE 20 minutes...). We had to plan food, schedule and so much more. It was about half way through our expected phone call when I heard a door open. This is when I almost hit my head on the wall, so exhausted at this point. Boo came out, swaying side to side. Here is the conversation (it makes me giggle a little bit, it's funny).
Me: What are you doing?

Boo: Sleeping

Me: Why are you out of bed?

Boo: I'm in bed (sways some more)! I am sleeping!

Me: Crap...gotta go, she is sleep walking again

How fun was that...made me laugh because she was swaying side to side like nobodies business.

After I got her back into bed, I called Hubby to let him know that she had been up, and the conversation. After we laughed, we got serious. She is not getting enough sleep, and the sleep she is getting just plain sucks.

At this point, I was a mess. I felt (no more) that I was going nuts because I didn't think he ever saw it, and that HE thought I might be loosing it. I don't really remember her doing it when he is home his three nights off, but then he reminded me that she did 3 times on Saturday, 1 on Friday and 3 on Thursday. It made me feel better, I am not crazy (well...no more than normal at least).

Look at the bags under her eyes...my poor girl

So, off we go again to follow up, and see what the next steps are to help my little girl sleep better at night. She is still very pale all the time, always tired and actually fell asleep on the bus twice now.

Hopefully we can get this figured out and fast!

Building a Bathroom

The "random toilet" won't be random much longer...

We got Construction!! Woohoo!!!

What I Learned this Week

Here we are once again, time for another week of What I Learned this Week. I love doing this, it makes me think about what actually goes on in my life, what I know and what I am seeing along the way.

This week was an emotional one, and it was OH SO filled with life lessons and realizations.

- Sitting down to write out all of Hunter's needs is hard, but thankfully I had two WONDERFUL Twitter friends giving me the best advise (Kim and Erin).

We had the first of three meetings regard Hunter's possible qualification for an IEP, and I was overwhelmed with the need to be very prepared for this one. We would talk about what his problem areas are, and what we wanted them to especially take notice of. It was a hard meeting to sit through, but I had great help preparing. Plus, I only cried once! Score!!

- Spending 2.5 hours in the car with Lia is wonderful every time. Especially when I burn a cd of 90's songs and we bust a move. It was great, my sides hurt from laughing so much. And it carries on, since we keep having a conversation on Twitter in just lyrics...yes we are 12 at times.

- Finding out that Freebies 4 Mom has a freebie for 50 free photo cards was the find of the YEAR! Head over here, I am not even kidding. GO! Christmas cards people! Christmas cards!! I just ordered mine, again with the help of Twitter. They are fabulous!

- I learned this week about "freezer cooking" and am digging to learn more. Cook a ton one day and have food ready to go...I am all for it!

- There is nothing wrong with using layaway when money is tight. I am not ashamed to admit it.

- Shopping for a new baby in the family is the BEST THING EVER. So much fun.

- Doing something good for someone, even if they don't know it at the time is wonderful. Thanks Lia for coming with!

- I saved $50.78 on a $82.60 bill at the grocery store this past week. I did a little dance, I am not ashamed of it.

- I say "Stalking is a crime" to much...Boo is now repeating it. I asked her if she knew what stalking was...she said "A crime mom...like wearing white shoes after Labor Day.". So...no more Legally Blonde the musical is seems...

- On a bye-week the Vikings can gain ground when the Bears AND the Packers loose. It is wonderful. Hopefully they won't break my heart again...

- You can teach a 2 year old to say almost anything, and it will bring tears of laughter to yours eyes. Gotta love an Aunts role!

I am laughing so hard now, thinking about my nephew saying stuff I can't even write anymore.

Head on over to Musings of a Housewife for more What I Learned this Week posts.

Five For Fighting - Review

For many years I have been listening to Five for Fighting, the music speaks so clearly. John Ondrasik is the song writer for Five for Fighting, and the singer. His voice is so mellow, calming and true. He writes the way he sings, deeply personal.

Listening to the newest album, Slice, has been great. Hearing his voice, his words and the simple way he delivers both is pure joy.

From the website:

If every album provides snapshots of where an artist's mind at heart is at the moment, Slice, the latest offering from John Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting), is a collection of digital jpegs and faded Polaroids.

The very personal level of his songs is something so few artists have, so many don’t write their own music. This is something that drew me to him, and kept me hooked from the beginning.

Not only is John Ondrasik a wonderful musician, he is involved in social media and more importantly some wonderful charities. In 2007 John launched the charity website whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com. It raises money for many charities when visitors view videos provided by other visitors. The current view count…3 million! That translate to $300,000 donated.

John is also a strong supporter of the US Troops. He has performed at Guantanamo Bay, Hawaii, Guam & Japan through USO Tours. With that John created a CD of fabulous recording that is available to any active service person for free!

John has composed songs for many movies, most recently August Rush, We Were Solders and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. He was also featured on a promo for the new show The Good Wife this past week.

Five For Fighting’s newest album “Slice” is a strong contender for my new favorite, it has power, patience and quiet. It fits so well with any mood, something that is important as I constantly listen to my Ipod at work.

Many thanks to One2One Network for the chance to hear Five For Fighting’s newest album Slice!

The Week

This week was full of simple pleasures. Small things that added up to make the week not quite as hectic and scary.

- WCCO tweeted me back to tell me what exactly was going on in my neighborhood. That was cool.
- I found a drain cover that actually worked in my tub for my ever-loving-always-falling-out hair.
- I colored my hair, while Boo read to me about Sharks and Dolphins.
- Hubby took Koda hunting for the very first time, and then Koda went to the Kennel to get a bath.
- Today my friend Andi turned 29...and she will forever be 29 (or so she says). Tomorrow is her birthday/anniversary/housewarming bash, and I can't wait. I have missed her.
- On Sunday my Lovely Lia and I will be helping a friend, and there is no one I would rather take with me then her.
- LIA GOT A JOB! After months of searching, interviewing and stressing out she rejoins the work force. I am so proud of her. She is so strong, so smart and so wonderful.
- It is two weeks from today when we will have Ladies Night and see New Moon. Can't wait.
- Two weeks and one day until The Pioneer Woman comes to Minnesota!

So many wonderful things, taking the edge off a stressful week.

Try This! - PASTA!!

It is time again for Girlymama's Try This carnival, which is held on the first Thursday of each month.

This month's theme is PASTA! Oh how I love Pasta...I truly do. So many things are made better with pasta.

So, I wanted to do the simplest pasta "dish" I make, and one that the my kids (and me, who am I kidding) would eat everyday if we could.

Parmesan Butter Noddles

- Pasta of any shape or size, we use small shells or egg noodles the most. The amount depends on how much the people will eat, no exact amount here.
- Butter
- Parmesan - same as pasta, I use a bunch because it is just wonderful.

Cook pasta as directed on package, and drain. Make sure it is still warm, to melt the butter and cheese.

Put in the bowl/on the plate you will be using. It doesn't taste the same, something about how the butter coats in large amounts of pasta.

Add butter, you can do as little or as much as you want with this. I do a medium amount, about 1 teaspoon per bowl.

Add cheese - and oh how we add it in this house! We have been known to go through half a container with this meal for three of us.

Stir and Eat!

*Additions - I do this with chicken or shrimp a lot, and you can add any spices you might want.

So very simple, I feel like I am cheating...so here's another one that is more involved. This is one that I got out of my Food Network "How to Boil Water" cookbook**, and have made it once and love it!

Outside the Box Pasta Pie*
-1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (for pasta water)
-8 ounces of Penne or Penne Rigate
-1/2 cup milk
- 2 Large eggs
-1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
-Dash Worcestershire sauce
-Pinch nutmeg
-Fresh Cracked Pepper
- 2 Slices Bacon
- 1/2 Medium onion
- 1/4 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, plus a little more for greasing your baking dish (IMPORTANT!)
- 2 Cups broccoli - frozen is easiest, cooks better in the dish
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Preheat your oven to 350, cook pasta for about 6-8 minutes. It will continue to cook when it bakes, so you don't want it all the way done.

While the pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, Worcestershire, nutmeg and black pepper. Drain pasta and let cook for about 5 minutes, add to mixture.

Slice bacon into thin strips, chop onion (not to small) and sun dried tomatoes. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the bacon until it just begins to crisp, add onion, broccoli and tomatoes to saucepan. Season with salt, pepper and cook until onion is tender. Add to above mixture, also adding cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese is melted

Grease baking dish and butter and mound the pasta in dish (I like having a peak in the middle). Add remaining cheese to top and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm.

*Additions: I have done this adding chicken and even some turkey before, so good and an entire meal (great for reheating for work too!).

** I LOVE this cookbook. I can never remember how to boil an egg, or how long to cook one for if I want it runny. I would normally call Ma, but I felt like an idiot. Now, I can feel that way without having to let her know! This book is wonderful!!