Snow day

Ok, so I was really praying for school today, but alas the will of the Lord overrode my own! So I've tried to make the most of today and document it will my cell phone because Michael took the real camera with him on his business trip. (Please, feel free to bug him about that choice.)

Snow day breakfast.



Sledding Fun!










Hot Chocolate and the Aftermath

Not me! Monday

Oh yes! It's MckMama's Not Me Monday! I would never be involved in the following activities and choices. Anyone who says differently is just trying to get me in trouble.

I did not under any circumstances, purchase paper plates this week. I recycle everything, use cloth napkins, and used cloth diapers for goodness sakes! I would never use paper plates just to save my pregnant sanity.

I did not seriously consider throwing away dirty clothes and simply purchasing new ones. I was not that sick of laundry.

I did not send my six year old to bed, along with the other younger ones, because I simply couldn't function any longer and had to nap for 20 minutes. I did not sleep for 90 minutes.

I did not announce that I am pregnant by putting a ticker on my blog and then posting a link to twitter that updates my facebook status. I am not that woman!

After my ultrasound, the ultrasound tech did not offer to scan SJ, who is two. We did not agree to this, so we of course do not have a picture of SJ's liver. (If we had a scanner, I'd post the pic!)

Have a great week!

Children's Responses

We took our kids out for ice cream to tell them we were adding a new baby to the family. They were a riot! They each had their own responses.

Chase: Really? When?
Stuart: HUH?
Sabrina: Can I play and kiss the baby's toesies?

We talked some about when (August) and how far away it is, but how exciting it will be to have a new brother or sister. We asked what we should call the baby until it comes.

Chase: John. Yes, John.
Sabrina: I'm gonna call it Aleah.
Michael liked peanut. I thought that was too generic. I liked marshmallow, but that got shut down too. We didn't reach any conclusions.

This morning Sabrina was reminding Stuart about the baby.

Sabrina: Yes, my baby will come after my birthday and when I'm in 3K.

I'm glad they are so excited!

Contributions?

Ok, I may have overloaded my plate a bit for the next couple weeks. So I'm asking for some help.

I contribute to a monthly parenting newsletter for moms and I'm needing a topic this month. Any ideas or parenting questions to spark my column this month would help me a lot! Just leave a comment or send me an email! Thanks!

The News

Just thought you all would like to know, there will be a new Whitmer in the world.

Not me! Monday

Oh another week! I would never be involved in anything you read below. Anyone who would say otherwise is just spreading gossip and slander! Check out MckMama for more non-confessions.

I did not put my boys to bed at 6:15 one night because of their bad behavior. That same night a friend of mine did not throw away a trash bag full of cars because her child refused to pick up.

I did not allow my son to wear the same pair of jeans, with patches coming off the knees, 3 days in a row to school.

I did not enjoy SJ's playdate with another little girl so much that I contemplated encouraging the boys to get some girlfriends.

I DID not wear slipper socks as my actual socks when it was so cold.

I DID NOT forget when the last time my children had bathed and still put them in bed without a bath.

I DID NOT contemplate buying a Wii after we had a borrowed on this weekend! I DID NOT coral my children in laundry basket because they were so excited to play the Wii, we were scared they would hurt each other! Stu DID NOT win almost every game.

I DID NOT allow my daughter to wear the same undershirt and shirt 3 days in a row. Of course she had fresh clothes daily.

I DID NOT sleep for 2 hours Sunday morning and then another 2 hours Sunday afternoon. My life has NOT been that busy this past week that I would require that much catch-up sleep.

I DID NOT have problems with two different paint colors causing us and our painter frustrating delays. But it's finished now!

Child Labor

Cinderella

Handmade & Second Hand Toys

Do you buy or sell handmade or used clothes and toys?
This should concern you.

I've included links to write your representatives and encourage them to approve exceptions to law.


From Baby Cheapskate:
I want to be clearer and more specific about the effect the CPSIA (Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act) will have on reselling when it goes into effect on February 10. As clear as I can be, that is, since it seems there's an awful lot of confusion.

You will no longer be able to place used children's clothes or toys into the "stream of commerce" unless you can prove that they've been tested for lead and pthalates. As I and others understand it, that means no selling items without such proof on ebay, Craigslist, yard sales, and church/organization consignment sales (See if your favorite sales are still scheduled). Of course, that means no buying kids' clothes and toys without certification from these sources either. This act could easily triple the amount that many families pay to clothe their kid until there are enough second-hand items manufactured after Feb. 10 to replenish the second-hand market (and even then it's likely that prices at thrift stores, etc. will be higher due to the added cost of testing them). It will absolutely eliminate the notion of recouping any of the cost of older items through reselling.

What about donations? My research tells me that you won't be able to donate your used kids' clothing and toys to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or any place that would resells. They'd have to have proof that you had it tested for lead and pthalates. What that means for charities like Project Linus, which gives blankets to hospitalized newborns, or to charities that distribute clothing and toys without selling them, is unknown.

So can you give away your stuff on Freepeats, Freecycle, and Craigslist? What about swap meets? I've found one commenter that says no. Beyond that, there's little mention of it.

I do know one thing: If the government wants individuals to comply with this Act, it's going to have to do a better job of informing them. Until the government informs me otherwise, I'm going to assume that giving away your stuff on Freepeats will be okay.

Edited: Evidently Congress is in the process of determining exemptions to the new law. That's why it's so important to act now and let your voice be heard.

Other links with other information:
Cool Mom Picks
Sorta Cruchy


Write your elected officials here.

It takes 5 minutes. If you want, I'll send you the text of my letter to my senators and representative.

It's a whole new world (Yes, hear the music)

Today SJ had her first real playdate today. I know, you're shocked, she's two and it's her first play date! Her brothers have friends over often and she's just not had girls over to play. And wow! What a difference two girls make!

Alison came over today and she is just so sweet and calm and such a great influence on my wild child girl! They cooked, played games, dressed as princesses, and needed very little influence and supervision. It was wonderful. Sara and I had a cup of coffee and chatted away the morning. I was simply amazed at the calm atmosphere. I'm sure it's not always like that, but I'm looking forward to the next girls' morning!

Funny responses

I've been chided recently for not blogging with enough frequency. So here are some tidbits from our crazy life recently.

At dinner a couple weeks ago, C's behavior cost him the privilege of eating with the family. (Don't you love how I phrased that?) There was great wailing and gnashing of teeth and I really can't overstate the wailing. He needs no hyperbole. After some time to calm down and the rest of us finished eating, we were ready to talk to C about his behavior. And true to being a foolish child, he was focused on his hunger and not the problem of his behavior.

Me: Why did you lose the privilege of eating with the family?
C: I can't answer because I'm soooo hungry! At breakfast I'm gonna eat everything even yours!
I'm SO going to overeat at breakfast.
(That'll teach me! He'll eat my food!)


In the car:
C: Mom, is the Grinch part owl?
Me: Why do you think the Grinch is part owl?
C: Well, his fur looks kinda feathery, but mostly because he can turn his head in almost a complete circle just like an owl.

We are memorizing Psalm 19 as family, so we read through it every night before bed. C is FAR ahead of the rest of us and tonight he wanted to see how far he could go. So he gets one of the last verse actually says, "then I will be blameless and I shall be acquitted of great transgression." C says, "Then I will be blameless and I shall be committed for great transgression." All I could see is him in a straight jacket, "committed for great transgression!"


At the YMCA, there are times when the kids get to play in the racket ball court, which is one of SJ's favorite places to play. Driving in the car past the Rocket Park in Maplewood, SJ says,
"Mom, it's just like the rocket court! Will I get to play in the rocket court today at the Y?"

Not me! Monday

This week was perfect. My children exhibited model behavior and I was forever patient. Really, I did none of the activities seen below. Other fun "Not me!" at www.mycharmingkids.net, AKA MckMama.

I DID NOT do an unbelievable happy dance on Tuesday when both my boys went back to school. I DID NOT even consider "forgetting" that I had to pick them up at 12:15 PM.

I DID NOT allow my children to watch two movies in one afternoon so I could keep packing. They of course read quietly in their rooms and played peacefully while I boxed up half the house.

I DID NOT eat ramen noddles from the saucepan while bathing my children. I am NOT sure that is the only time this week they were bathed.

I DID NOT eat all the edges of the leftover gooey butter cake.

While a painter was working at the house, I DID NOT drive around a 4 block circle about 5 times because the only place my children were remotely behaved was the car. I was NOT short with my husband that day when he was late.

I DID NOT lock my boys out of the house in our (fenced) backyard because they just needed to run around. I DID NOT make C jump up and down while he counted to 100 for the same reason. SA & SJ DID NOT join him jumping just for their own fun.

I always have a fully stocked fridge and pantry, so I DID NOT go to Schnucks in half pjs, no bra, unwashed face, and hat to get milk and something for breakfast on Sunday morning. I DID NOT see the director of development of my kids school when I looked liked a raccoon in rags.

I DID NOT sleep on the sofa for 3 nights this week because I couldn't handle the paint smell in my bedroom. I am NOT sore at all. I am NOT doing another happy dance because I get to sleep on The Cloud tonight. I have NOT named my bed, The Cloud.

I DO NOT have 3 blog entries in draft waiting to be finished because I've been so focused on getting the house ready. Some day!

Blue Chair Pictures

We've taken the kids' pictures in a blue chair in monthly increments, but when we put the chair away, we got a bit off track. So here's a bit of catch up!

Not me! Monday

Oh, it's Monday again! Time for confessional...wait! I did none of these things! Check out more at MckMama. Happy New Year!

After losing 4 pounds because of the stomach virus last week, I DID NOT gain every bit back because of eating way too much at a New Orleans New Year's Day Open House.

I DID NOT pack away about a third of my house because it's going on the market in March. (Anyone up for a 3 bedroom charmer in the Midwest?)

I DID NOT forget all the funny things my kids said this week because I was too busy boxing up the house to jot them down.

I DID NOT find my daughter in the sink, trying to bathe herself! I was not frustrated that I didn't have time to get the camera to document it!

I DID NOT spend 3 hours trying to figure out how much money we might get from the house and how much we'll have saved and how much is the new house cost, etc. I wouldn't waste that much time on something 2-6 months away!

I DID NOT get very excited when I went to check MckMama's page and my hopes were not dashed to see I was number 115! I would never be so competitive.

I AM NOT thrilled for school to start tomorrow!