Confessions from Householdsix » kids

Wordless Wednesday – Silly Bandz

Amanda — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:28:39 +0000

My boys are really into these Silly Bandz. Even my 3yo. They even managed to find a package of Army shapes. Here, Aaron is showing off his pirate shapes, and the three humvees Zach gave him.

Nutritional Advice from the McDonald’s Drive Thru

Amanda — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:42:58 +0000

After Zach got his allergy shots today, I took the kids to McDonald’s to grab dinner. Not high on the nutritional priorities, but it’s hot, McD’s is fast, and once in awhile it won’t kill anyone. So I go through the drive thru and order. Then I pay. Then I get to the window where they give me my food. A girl leans out with the big sweet tea cups and says, “You aren’t going to give these to your kids are you? They’re like five cups of sugar each.” I said, “Yes I am. The Hi-C has just as much sugar, and also red dye which makes my kids off the charts hyper. They’re lactose intolerant, and they can’t have the milk. I’d prefer they not have soda. They don’t need Vitamin Water. So yes, I’m letting them have sweet tea, and yes, I’m letting them get the gigantic cups. Think of it as their Starbucks.” She then tried to tell me again about all the sugar in the sweet tea. So I had to explain, “I’m not exactly here because McDonald’s is known for its health food. It’s fun for the kids now and then.” I really wanted to say, “Shut up and gimme the damn tea. I’m thirsty,” because I had ordered one for myself. She kinda rolled her eyes at my health food comment, but really. You choose to question a mother giving her kids the sweet tea (albeit the gihugo cup size they offer), and not the chicken nuggets or fries? Really? Even McDonald’s salads are laden in calories (and a preservative that if you’ve had your gall bladder out will make you learn every public bathroom between the restaurant and your house). If I want to eat healthy, I’ll stay home and cook.

My Kids Think They’re Getting Soda

Amanda — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:36:54 +0000

I found a new product at the grocery store that we all love. No, this is not a compensated review. I’m sharing what I found because I know how hard it is to balance what we want nutritionally for our kids with their want for the junk foods they see everywhere. Juicy Juice has sparkling juices now. I searched that nutrition label high and low for added sugar and dyes. I’ve been fooled by those claims before. I couldn’t find any (I bought orange). Now, I still consider this product a treat not only because of the price, but also because it’s juice. Juice is liquid calories none of us need on a regular basis. BUT, my boys drank the sparkling orange Juicy Juice and thought they hit the jackpot because mom was allowing them to have orange soda. This is something that is generally banned from our house due to the red dye used to make it (my oldest can’t have red dye). The juice isn’t overly carbonated, so for kids who like the fizzyness of soda, but not to much like my kids will like this as well.

Mamarazzi Monday – 4th of July Edition

Amanda — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:36:16 +0000

How did you spend the 4th of July? We spent it in the ER Friday and Sunday. Friday, Aaron took a header down about 5 stairs and used his face as a landing pad. Sunday Zach was presenting as possible appendicitis. After 6 hours of tests, it was determined it’s just a really nasty virus at this point, and I need to watch him the next couple days. Instructions were to come back if he gets worse or see our regular doc if he’s not better in a couple days.

Aaron was running around Zach’s ER room about 10pm trying to stay awake after I said, “No running,” ran into the linen basket and gave himself this black eye.

This is how we spent July 4, 2010. If you want to participate in Mamarazzi Mondays, hop on over to Household 6 Diva every Monday.

Wordless Wednesday – Tales From the Drain

Amanda — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:02:33 +0000

This is semi-wordless only because it left me speechless. Just when I think I’ve seen it all from the boyus, I snake a tub drain thinking I’m going to pull out a big gross wad of my hair only to get this – a bouncy ball that’s been sitting in there for months while we use Drano, and various other tools to try to unclog our slow drain.

Summer Pace

Amanda — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:15:40 +0000

The last couple weeks have been busy. It’s been nice because there hasn’t been much time for anyone to complain that they’re bored. Zach got to go to Hersheypark as part of his birthday gift and have a day out, just he and Dad. He likes those days. Zach’s been a Daddy’s boy since he was born.

Aaron had his speech evaluation through early intervention. It let me with mixed feelings. His pronunciation is fine. When asked how old he is, and what his name is, he was much more interested in discussing the cars he was working on lining up in a perfectly straight line. He knows the answers to the questions she was asking, but just wasn’t what he wanted to talk about at that moment. We’ve had a couple developmental questions at home. One is that he still has a binky all the time. If we take it, he will find other things to put in his mouth. He constantly needs something in his mouth. When we got Aaron to remove the binky for part of the speech eval, he totally stimmed out. We left with him having been referred for a full evaluation. There was more, but this was the point in the eval that my head started to let go of having a typically developing kid.

Zach turned 9. I can’t believe I have a 9 year old. He chose Carrabba’s as his birthday dinner spot. The food was yummy as always. It’s the only place around here that actually cooks my steak how I order it. I just wish their fish dishes didn’t smell so bad. The table diagonal from us had something that started off smelling like mild B.O. when it was first brought out, and it slowly progressed into this cross between crotch rot and feet. I’m glad they were done before we got our food.

Zach got a gift card for his birthday. I have a love/hate relationship with him. I love them because he can be kinda picky, and hard to read his expressions with the whole Asperger’s thing. At the same time, trying to get him to understand the concept of a gift card, find exactly what he want, and explain sales tax is EXCRUCIATING. He thought the gift card was like a coupon for that amount off his purchase. OY. We did stop just short of having to get the calculator out and visually working it out. That’s progress, but there was almost clean up needed in the Star Wars action figure aisle as my head exploded in frustration.

Speaking of Toys R Us, they have a cool thing going on this year. They have a Christmas club type program going on where you can add money to the card anytime you have the chance. They will add 3% to the balance as of October 16, 2010. I think it’s a good deal if you want to start putting some money away for Christmas so it doesn’t hit you so hard later.

Next hurdle is Aaron’s endoscopy next week to test for celiac disease or any other cause of his constant belly aches and other symptoms.

Living on Post

Amanda — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:53:46 +0000

In the Army, living on post has many advantages and disadvantages. I’d have to say that one of the biggest advantages of this post so far is that the majority of our neighbors cycle out every June. Especially this class. There is no common courtesy among the kids. Yes, I’ve become a curmudgeon. How can I teach my kids to respect other people’s property when your kids think it’s perfectly OK to leave their bikes, scooters, and other toys in my yard? Yes, there is a common area, and there is also the area immediately around my house that is considered my yard. You have a yard too. I encourage your kids to leave their crap in your yard, not mine. Tonight was the second night in a row a bike was in our driveway. Last night we were kind enough when we came home from being out to not run it over. Tonight I moved it into the street and told the gang of kids who thought it was perfectly OK to play in the street that this was the second time I’ve had a bike in my yard. Next time I take it, and they can explain to their parents where their bike is. Yes, they’re just kids, but a lot of these kids are of the pre-teen ages. I would expect that before 11 years old that your child would have some common courtesy.

And while I’m on the cons of post living, letting your 2 and 3 year olds run amok with no supervision isn’t too bright either. Just because we live on post doesn’t mean it’s safe. There are people who come on and off this installation every day that you don’t know who they are or what their intentions are. Think of all the contractors who work here. We have no idea who they are. Last weekend we came home for the second time to a girl of about 3 playing with our outdoor toys. Not an adult in sight. I’m done. From now on when I see kids that little with no adults I’m just calling the MPs. Kids under 4 are to be with a parent at all times. Ages 4-10 are to be in parents’ sight. I guess they figure after age 10 these kids have their own ID cards and can walk around post freely. Not my kids. I still think 10 is too young to go too far.

Let’s all be good neighbors and supervise our children, OK? I don’t think that’s too much to ask for parents t actually BE parents.

Silly Kids

Amanda — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:44:29 +0000

The boys have said and doe some silly things lately. I wish I would’ve written some of them down. I do have one from each of them that stick out though.

Aaron: He says, “all the time,” after everything he feels is important. “Can I have a snack all the time?” “You need to make the eggs all the time.” “Play cars, Mommy, all the time.” etc.

Zach: Last night at dinner in Olive Garden, he hollowed out his bread stick and put his soup down it. He says “It’s soup in the hole.” Um, OK. Then he says , “You know, it’s like a small version of that thing they have at Panera bread.” “A bread bowl?” “Yeah, that’s it.” OY. The bread stick version was messy too.

Our whole dinner experience last night was interesting. The boys weren’t bad, but we’ll say they were busy. Aaron had brought Zach’s lunchbox filled with cars, and dumped them out on the table. Zach was doing his bread stick and soup thing. They both had their usual OCD stuff. Not bad, just busy. I was kinda thankful when the toddler next to us started screaming to take the attention off our busy table.

Out of Office by FedEx

Amanda — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:00:05 +0000

Are you looking for some activities to do with your kids? Solutions for your home? Event Ideas? You can find them all on the Out of Office site by FedEx. I saw directions to make a kite, baby shower ideas, wedding ideas, Valentines, and so much more!

We got a kit to make the bookmarks. Since we had enough supplies to make four bookmarks, I let each of my boys make two. They each made one yellow and one blue. Aaron was content to use the supplies we were provided. Zach wanted to make Star Wars bookmarks of course. Luckily I had some Star Wars stickers on hand for him. These are the boys making their bookmarks:

Both of them were too impatient to wait to go get their bookmarks laminated. They both wanted a hole punched and the ribbon put on right away. If your kids are more patient than mine, you can stop by your local FedEx Office or other similar store and get your bookmarks laminated for a few dollars.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I Have a Campaign for Keurig

Amanda — Sat, 22 May 2010 12:55:28 +0000

“So easy even a three year old can use it.”

While I took 30 seconds to myself to go pee the other day, Aaron took it upon himself to make himself a cup of tea. He took out the used Kcup that was in the machine from the last person to use it, threw it away, put in the new tea Kcup, put his Star Wars cup in the correct position to catch the tea, and pushed the button. Thankfully it was on a setting that his cup didn’t overflow. Since I realized my child has gorilla arms and can reach the Keurig to make a cup even though we have it pushed back as far on the counter as it will go, I unplugged the machine. Good thing I unplugged it. When I went to show my husband, there was a new Kcup in the machine where Aaron had tried to make another cup of coffee.