Ants on Purpose?

Yes we have ants ON PURPOSE!

No we didn't leave some sugar on the ground just hoping they would choose our house.

Chick 2, my little scientist in the making, is a proud owner of her own ant farm.


The Friday after school was out a little package came in the mail.

The package?

ANTS. Yep ants can be shipped.
That morning we put the farm together and now we have ants as pets.

Okay I may not love ants. I mean I squash the little boogers every chance I get, but ants are the easiest pets to have. Also, I will admit that they are cool to look at. They amaze me that they just know what to do in their new surroundings.

So, for now we are proud owners of ants!

This Momma Chick will do anything for my Chick to have fun with all things science (well almost).

Impressionable Words

You would think in our day and age that we as parents have learned what words can break our children.

I hear stories where parents will tell their children, "not to act stupid" or "how dumb can you be?"

Adults think of these as just words, however children take everything you say to heart. They will think they are stupid and dumb if the people they love most tell them they are. In my household the words stupid and dumb are just as bad as your common curse words.

I am reading a book called "Me and Emma" and the parents say the most horrible things to the main characters in this book. Last night I gave my girls a harder hug than usual.

Chick 2 is going through different body changes and one of them is hormones. One little moment can turn on the mother of all meltdowns. Last night was over her eating all her dinner. She lashed out with her words, so as punishment she was sent to her room. She came out and dropped a letter to the floor. What struck me most wasn't the "You are ruining my life", but the "Send me somewhere. You would be better off without me."

As a parent I look back and wonder, "Did I ever do or say anything that would make her think that?"

When she calmed down I made sure to tell her that we would NEVER be better off without her.

Parents have lots of power. Some don't realize this and some use this power for bad. We have the privilege to shape and mold our children any way we want, so why would you crack their fragile beings with words that harm their inner self?

Remember that there are 3 words no matter how often said that can heal all wounds. Those words are "I Love You".

My Get Up and Go is Gone!

At last weeks Weight Watcher's meeting the leader said how as we get older we suck the fun out of exercising.

When I was a kid I couldn't wait to get out and ride a bike.

Running around and playing chase was the first thing I thought about when I woke up.

I look at my daughter and the highlight of her day is when her teacher takes them out for P.E.

At what age do we as adults take the fun out of exercise?

Is it the word "exercise" that does it in?

There are so many ways to get moving, but why is it so hard to just get up and do them?

Even though I have been running I still have a hard time getting excited over it. It feels more like a chore right up there with laundry and cleaning.

I think it is time to start thinking like a kid in order to make the thought of getting out and exercising more fun.

To potty train or not to potty train...

That is now the question!

Chick 3 is almost 21 months. Not yet 2 years old.

I know some parents can't wait to potty train their children, and get rid of the expense and use of diapers.

I am not one of them. Chick 2 was 3 when I started the potty training process. It went extremely well and was potty trained in a couple days.

Then there is Chick 3. At almost 21 months she has learned a new catchphrase of, "I poo" in which she lifts up her shirt.

She has a 50/50 chance of being right with the whole poo in diaper thing.

Chick 2 never showed signs like this. At least non I was aware of.

I am so not ready to potty train, but what happens when they start to show the signs?

Do I rush out and get a potty and see what happens?

Do I just wait it out and see if this phase is short-termed and will come back at the age of 3?

I have a feeling I will end up waiting for a couple reasons:

1. She is a camel and drinks her cups filled with "flavored water" one right after another.
2. She leaks through her diapers, because of #1
3. She wakes up with a heavy 1 ton diaper, also because of #1.

The verdict is still in limbo on this one.

Happy Earth Day!

Today I was the cool mom and let Chick 2 play hooky from school. Okay I am not that cool.

Chick 2 is a science buff and her dream is to be a Marine Biologist. Since today was Earth day I let stay home from school to do some Earth day activities. I got some little dollar grow kits from Target, so we could plant some flowers and such. I would have done a tree, but honestly there is no room and they are not cheap.

Her big Earth day present (also a learning experience) was to see Disney's Oceans. I have to say they really outdid themselves. My eyes were filled with tears the whole movie (could have been because I am one over tired mommy, but still...). The footage is amazing and to see the damage we are doing to this wonderful place God created is astounding. Seeing it from the ocean life's point of view really puts it all into perspective.

I give this movie 2 thumbs up!

To see learn more about the movie click ---> Here

Eating Healthy = no dessert? Think Again!

Every time I thought about "dieting", or what I now call eating healthy I'd say good-bye to all the yummy snacks and desserts I would eat. I would deprive myself of all the unhealthy sugars like candy bars, cakes, ice cream etc. After all this deprivation I would loose weight and then go on a binge that would help me gain all those pounds back.

Now that I am back on track I have actually done my research, because honestly I love to end my day with dessert. Instead of buying packaged items like cookies and cakes I have learned that making your own and tweaking the recipes a bit can let you eat that dessert, as well as buying lower calorie items. You can eat this without the guilt. Isn't the guilt that helps loose that motivation?

The other night Chick 2 was going through the "Biggest Loser Family" cookbook and found a dessert she wanted to make us. It was a peanut butter fudge sundae. The total calories for this sundae are 196. If you calculate Weight Watchers points it came out to be a 3 point dessert.

The sundae in all its glory!

My little Chef

The whole house thought it was one of the best desserts ever! I do have to say that seeing my Chick getting involved with our new ways made this momma proud!

Just remember that eating healthy doesn't mean no treats and better yet no more of feeling guilty for when you do!

It's Mission Time!

Now that Chick 2 is in the 4th grade the school projects are getting more in depth. This year marks the year of building a mission. If you are in California you know this unit in California history all too well.

When I was in 4th grade our teacher had different ideas on the big California History project. I sometimes wished we got to build a mission, especially when you saw all the kids bringing them in to the other classes. I may not have gotten to do it then, but this year I can live vicariously through my child and experience it with her. By experience I mean she does the work and I watch over. (I could go on about that pet peeve, but that needs to be a post in of itself.)

I have been researching the many ways to build them, because I refuse to buy the kits of already made missions. I want my daughter to use her artistic/creative side I love so much. Yeah the pre-cuts would be already done and easy, but what fun is that?

So for the next month we will be on Mission of San Diego De Alcala overdrive. Going to capture the progress as well for a later post.

To those parents who are getting ready for this good luck and I wish you no head butting with your little one!

Signs that change is coming

As a mom I tend to always see my chicks as my babies no matter if they are getting older. Today, however I was given some smelling salts and my eyes were opened to seeing my oldest chick as becoming a tween. She has started to enter some of the stages of puberty. Thank goodness they are only minor. You know deodorant and undershirts.

I am a little scared to enter this stage in her life, because the questions are coming... You know what questions. The ones that make us squirm and stutter, even to those most brave and eloquent speaking parents. For example, she asked yesterday whether or not she can get a shot so she doesn't have a baby. After the whole Jaime Lynn Spears fiasco she has been really worried about having babies at a young age. (so happy this is having the effect it should.) Rooster and I chuckled to ourselves and told her no there is no shot and having children is a choice.

Yes yes I could have explained fully, but selfish me loves that she still has some innocence left in her. I know I need to have the talk soon. I am content with her knowing what she needs to know right now. I know the day is looming in the not so distant future and I am ready for the questions to hit me. My baby is no longer a baby and is not an easy thing for moms to endure. I just hope I get through it as unscathed as possible!

Germs germs germs

A family of germs have taken residence at our wonderful abode. They have latched onto us all leaving us each with a different illness. Chick 2 was the first to feel the effects of our unwanted guest leaving her with 5 days missed of school within the first month. The guest are now taking residence in Chick 3 and Rooster. I had a blip of an illness so I could take care and nurture the rest of the brood.

So to the Germ family I bid you adieu and please do not expect a warm welcoming the next time you decide our house would be great for a pit stop. You are not welcome here anymore!

I Am Poem

Every Monday Chick 2 comes home from school with a folder full of the last weeks assignments. I was going through the pile and found her "I Am Poem".

I Am
I am Chick 2
I wonder what I will be when I grow up
I hear birds sing
I see my friends
I want Thanksgiving to come
I am 9 years old

I pretend to be a teacher
I feel excited when I go to Knott's
I worry when I cut myself
I cry when I am hurt
I am always happy

I understand math
I say I'm pretty
I dream to be a scientist
I try to do my best
I hope I become a great soccer play
I am Chick 2

Soccer, soccer and wait more soccer!

Soccer season is upon us and this family looks forward to what we call Soccer Saturday. Chick 2 gets better every year and really is becoming the best defender I have ever seen! I know it may seem like I am being my bragging mommy self, but I am not alone in the bragging. We see club soccer in her near future! Even our youngest chick is getting into soccer mode. Instead of learning how to throw a ball we taught her how to dribble. Even now when she sees her ball instead of running to it and picking it up she will kick it with her feet.

Never thought this was hard...

Usually when I am asked to describe my daughters, I can write a novel. However today Chick 2 came home with a letter from her 4th grade teacher that asked the parents to describe their child. When I first read this I thought to myself "wow this will be a piece of cake!"
I waited till the chicks were in bed so this assignment could get my undivided attention. I open up Microsoft word get my hands ready to type and I freeze. All I could do is look at the blank screen with the blinking cursor. All these thoughts are in my head, but again I am having a hard time getting it on paper. For me it isn't the writing that is hard but the beginning that I can't seem to get right. After an hour of thinking and thinking I decide to first start it as I was writing to her. That was the magic touch and was able to type away.
Here is what I wrote... (what I sent the teachers)

Chick 2 is as unique as they come. She is a dreamer and not a small one at that. She always tells us that she wants to be a marine biologist, a rock star, a fashion designer, and an Olympic soccer player. They may be bigger than life dreams, but she is a believer and believes that she will do it all.

Chick 2 is also a thinker and it is amazing to see those wheels turn. She doesn’t take answers for face value at time and will analyze them… even the simplest ones. This we believe is why she excels in math and science.

All in all Chick 2 has a big heart and one of the sweetest girls anyone will meet. She always wants the best for everyone. She would have everyone be winners all the time if it were possible. She doesn’t like negativity and can be sensitive at times.

We were only given so much room to write and I know I could have gone on forever.