Costco, mom’s drug of choice!

I think I am addicted to Costco.  Maybe it is the great deals? Maybe the variety of items they carry?  I don’t exactly know what it is but I do know that I like the way I am feeling while in the store.  I am on top of the world; it is my adult Disney World. The anticipation of the visit thrills me, while there I am on cloud nine, and after I leave I have withdrawals. Costco is my drug of choice!!!

Two days prior to a Costco trip I hunt down the coupon pack to see what type of good deals I can get (I them often, forget the coupons at home but it is the thought that counts, right?).  The day before the magical visit I write out a list of the necessary items, at the bottom of the list in all capital letters I write the projected cost, and then below that in all capital letters and underlined and circled twice I write the amount budgeted for the trip (then as soon as I enter the store the list is quickly forgotten, as well as the budget, and I am grabbing whatever looks good and taste good, damn those samples! Who needs a savings account; we will just rename it the Costco account. Problem solved!).   

Now, Costco used to be a trip just for mom with maybe one or two children in tow but the secret is out.  I have come home one to many times beaming with joy.  Then entire family wanted in on this Costco High.  So, the day of the big trip the entire family piles into the car and we are off.  It is unusually quiet as each family member fantasizes about the amazing things that are to come.  

Finally we arrive!!! Pure joy is on everyone’s face.  This trip this weekend, like many before, did not disappoint.   First stop, the toy isles, and no, that was not on our list.  We thought it would be fun to let the kiddos start their lists for Santa (not sure if you heard but Santa is also a big fan of Costco). I want Mya wants the awesome Barbie case with Barbie make-up and nail polish in it. My hubby Max would like the Star Wars set and I am pretty sure Maddy would like one of everything. After the toy isles we were off to find the items we initial came into the store to purchase (you know those boring staples like milk, eggs, and laundry detergent which they strategically have place in the far back corner, clever Costco, clever! ).

On the way to the Laundry detergent mama got a new cook and an assistant cook (my old one is up for grabs if anyone is interested, I have provided a great reference).

New cook and assistant cook

Mama also got her copping mechanisms (gotta have my coffee, hot in the morning, and cold in the afternoon).

Copping mechanisms

Daddy got new shirts and socks.  Max kept saying something but we were to distracted by the lures of Costco. He finally grabbed a hold of the front of the cart and directed me towards samples.  He so eloquent expressed that we were not moving fast enough to the next sample and a Mom must okay the sample before they can have it.  So he grabbed that cart like it was my leash and sent me on a zigzag path towards the laundry detergent hitting every sample along the way.  

Unfortunately our shopping excursion had to come to an end (they close at six).  So we headed toward the checkout.  Mya was now juggling five samples in one hand (we will have to bring a tray next time for her; she seems to think Costco has a creative cafeteria thing going on).   So we checked out spending more than we had initially planned and excited as all heck to get home and try out our purchases.

Once home, like a drug, the high slowly wears off until the following week when I can start preparing for our next visit.

Hello, my name is Kat and I am addicted to Costco.  Does anyone know if there are any CA meeting around here?  

Costco Addict

Therapeutic Thursday

They say (therapist) that people deal with their problems in various ways.  Women however tend to fall under one of three categories; bury their problems in food, the crying till you’re a hot mess and panting like a dog, and then there are the throw yourself into a project type.   I fall under the latter category.

So, fueled by my therapeutic needs and three cups of coffee, I am ready to embark on the Sensational Changing of Seasons Session!

It’s time to say goodbye till next summer.

I know what you are thinking; the
Duggars must live here, right?

Time to go through the good old checklist to see who will make the cut:

·         Pockets - Found some money and some funky gooey stuff in mama’s coat pocket. EWW! Money!

·         Buttons- mama is missing like three buttons (not a problem, I have safety pins… genius, right?).

·         Zippers- daddy’s zipper doesn’t work (he will have to wear a heavy sweater with his coat)

·         Sizes- mama’s coat is a little big but that might be because I wore it while I was pregnant.  Oh, that’s how I lost those buttons (the sacrifices we make for our babies, if they only knew; now I am button less).  Max’s bomber jacket is too small but it is so cute.  Maybe I can put Maddy in it, or will that appear as though I am raising a little lesbian?  I don’t care, it is cute, butch or not, she is wearing it!  Oh, and the Fireman jacket, it is adorable.  She will wear that too.  Great, now I am raising her to be one of the village people.

·         Overall condition- Wow! Some of these need to be Dry Cleaned, what’s that? Please! Mama on a budget translation-wash them separately, say a little prayer they turnout okay, and place them on the line to dry.

Alright! Coats are complete, onto hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, and whatever additional random stuff might be lurking in the winter gear basket.

I try to color coordinate their winter hats and

mittens so that they can be interchangeable.

Sweet!  This was a breeze thanks to my efforts last spring and my nifty mitten technique. I washed everything in the Spring time so it is fresh and ready for wear.  I also adopted a new wintertime routine last year.  Instead of wet mitten being rolled up into a ball and thrown in a basket far from its matching mitten we instilled the Pin-a-Pair technique. Each child places their mittens together with clothes pins when they are finished playing in the snow.  It worked like a charm. I am happy to say that out of fifteen pairs of mittens on two currently separated (but not divorced, I am still holding out hope that they will reconcile).

I love how all baby girl stuff is white or a light color.
Hello, how am I suppsoed to conceal dirt/stains?

Max's, going for all blues and grays.

This mom is prepared, bring it on Mother Nature!  (Side note, I just checked the weather and it is suppose to be 80 degrees tomorrow. I am getting a smack down from Mother Nature, ouch! So my kids will be the only ones at the farm tomorrow with pants and sweaters on.  That’s okay; I will bring extra water to keep them hydrated.).

Real housewives of Beverly Hills vs. a Real housewife of Toledo

Okay, so I just finished watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  All I have to say is $25,000.00 sunglasses.  What!!! Who spends $25,000.00 on sunglasses?  REALLY!!  I have a tough time fathoming spending $25,000.00 on anything let alone a pair of sunglasses.  So, it got me thinking, just what do I have in common with these “housewives”, if anything?

They have a cook…. I have a cook.

They have a driver….I have a driver.

They have staff to walk their dog…I have staff to walk my dog.

They have maids…I have a maid.

They have security…I have security.

I guess our lives aren’t that different after all. Well, I am off to see about getting a second mortgage on my house so I can get me some kick ass shades.

Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Thursday

I said a little prayer last night that today be a “normal” Thursday.  My prayer was answered! Everything ran smoothly today.  I dropped off the kiddos at their schools, Maddy actually had an uninterrupted nap, and I was able to spend some much needed time with a few appliances (dishwasher and washer/dryer).

Poor Alligator never stood a chance.

How can he compete with Power Rangers & Brobee?

After picking up Max I decided to checkout a local second-hand store near my house. Mya needs some pants so I figured I’d give it a gander. I was surprised at how clean the store was there wasn’t a ton of stuff piled up like other second hand stores.  Unfortunately there were no pants in Mya’s size but there were some nice Halloween costumes. Max screamed when he found the Power Ranger costume, it was the red Power Ranger and his absolute favorite.  So we added a costume to our make-believe box. 

Runner up, in case the power ranger can’t

fulfill its obligations Brobee will step in.

He put on the costume as soon as we got home and has been wearing it ever since. I’d say we have already gotten our moneys worth. Wish me luck convincing him to take it off tonight.

Yes, he even wore it to go pick up his sister from school.

I don’t wanna...I don’t wanna!... I DON'T WANNA!!!

Four days before it struck.

Now, based upon the title of the entry you are probably thinking that I will be discussing a recent toddler tantrum or a preschooler protest but you would be wrong.  I don’t wanna…. I don’t wanna! I DON'T WANNA!!!....is the statement that was repetitively playing in this modern day mopin’ mama's mind. Why?  Well, it all started last Wednesday.

Hours before it struck.  We will be seeing those muffins again.

It started off as an innocent Wednesday.  We did our usual Wednesday routine.  Dropped off Mya at Kindergarten, went to baby story time at the library, had a lovely lunch…yada…yada…yada.   That evening the dog got sick and that’s when this mama went into survival mode.  (See, the flu usually strikes the dog first, weird, right?) I checked the status of our laundry situation, specifically towels, I cleaned out all buckets, I made sure fluids were stocked and ready for ingestion, medication was available for all ages and ample, clean sheets were a go, I was prepared.  If the stomach flu was going to strike my family I was prepared for the battle, BRING IT!  

Thursday Mya got sick at school and I picked her up.  It appeared to be an isolated case.  She never got sick again, it appeared to be one of those common kiddo conditions when they eat a lot of food then go run around and puke a minute later.  My son is notorious for doing this but it is usually with the help of his little friend called the sit-n-spin.  Please, they should call it the eat-sit-spin-puke. I digressed.  So, since it was isolated, and nothing happened Friday or Saturday morning this mama let her guard down.  Bad idea, that’s when ‘it’ goes in for the sneak attack, as if ‘it’ can sense when you are the most vulnerable.

My allies in this battle.

It hit our family Saturday night without warning.  It hit Mya.  Then while I was in the process of tending to her it struck Max. NO!!!! I felt so defenseless.  I thought we were out of the woods, so in my carelessness I thought I could change the sheets on Friday and then take a day off from laundry on Saturday (God rested on the seventh day, have I learned nothing, wait till Sunday)  So, to my dismay I was no longer prepared.  But I was not going to give up without a fight.  I hauled ass down to the washing machine and I started doing laundry like it was going out of style (what does that even mean?).  But I couldn’t keep up.  I hate to admit it but after a certain point any article of clothing that no longer fit a child was subject to earning the distinctive title of puke soaker-upper (as well as that ugly shirt my hubby liked-shhh. Oh, you know there is a shirt of your hubby’s that you are just praying earns the same title).  I am not proud of it but I had to do what I had to do to stay on top of this crazy battle. Then, as if the flu could see that I was making a comeback it hit below the belt.  It wanted to hit me where it hurts, it hit the baby, that bastard!

This morning... 

So, as I slowly walked back to my car in the pouring rain, no make-up, feet and sneakers soaked from the gosh darn puddles, wearing my PJs under my coat after dropping off my one healthy child at school I contemplated what awaited me at home.  At home was a son who can’t make it to the bathroom or the bucket, and never lays down. No, he jumps around like a power ranger puking here and there as he goes, leaving puddles of puke everywhere and my curious 13-month-old is willing to play in anything (I won’t get to graphic you might be eating).  I knew that as soon as I got home I needed to clean up the puddles from this morning, clean up the baby, do lot’s of laundry, explain a million times why you can’t eat after puking, sanitize the house, and chase around my preschooler with a bucket, I just wanted to say forget about it (I know what you were thinking).  So, as I continued my rainy stroll back to the car a little tear escaped my eye and in my mind I was chanting...I don’t wanna…I don’t wannn..I DON’T WANNA!! But, home I went ……

Mama and Munchkin’s Meal Marathon

Evolution of dinner time….

Mealtime has drastically changed in the past eight years.  I remember when we were newlyweds and I would search cookbooks for intricate recipes in hopes of impressing my new hubby.  I would slave over the stove and carefully present the food on his plate.  I would even go as far as wiping a spot of sauce from the side of his plate.  I was a five star restaurant chef.

Then after a year or two we got comfortable.  No longer were we eating at a table. We would both come home from work exhausted (we didn’t even know the meaning of the word back then, no kids and exhausted, please!) plop down in front of the television and that was that. We were the couch potato couple.

Flash forward to year three of our marriage and we had just welcomed a baby girl.  Dinner became whatever could be delivered or dropped off.  How was I supposed to prepare meals, work, and take care of a baby?  (If I only new then what I know now). I was the drive-thru/delivery drama mama.

On to year four of our marriage and we were a happy family of four.  We realized routine and dinner at the table would be a good tradition to start adopting now that we had a one and two year old.  So, I would prepare three different dinners everyday, puréed fruits and vegetables for my one-year-old, finger foods for the two-year-old, and I started preparing classy meals again for my husband and me. I was a short order cook.

During years five and six I began to bring back the more formal dinning experience and dinner would take roughly 30-45 minutes to prepare.  I would occupy the children with some activity in the kitchen while I cooked.  I enjoyed spending quality time with the children while I prepared dinner.  We had a nice routine and the meals were, healthy and delicious.   I was the perfect cook and mother.

Fast forward to year seven and eight.  We are always on the go and there is hardly time to eat dinner let alone prepare dinner.  But,I think I have finally figured it out; it is possible to have fast and convenient meals that are also nutritious for your entire family with minimal preparation everyday.  With the help of two little appliance friends called the slow cooker and the freezer. Taking a couple hours every other week to prepare future meals saves so much time during the week. Also, preparing meals ahead of time is a fun experience when the entire family gets involved.  We have found that the preparation of the meals is the perfect opportunity for the kiddos to learn about nutrition, science, art, and more. 

Preparation is the key for this mama of three.

I so enjoyed preparing meals with the kiddos today.  First I sat down and wrote out the menu for the next three weeks.  Then the kiddos helped me prepare those meals. We added five frozen meals to our freezer, boiled eggs for lunches this week, and made some yummy chocolate chip muffins.

Thrilling Thursday (It sounded better than Throw-up Thursday)

Max played photographer this morning. 
Granted he cut off my forehead but he really captured
the optimism in my eyes.

Well, today started off like any ordinary Thursday.  I got up around 6:30am to get the laundry going, get the oatmeal on the table, and make the coffee.  But to my surprise I had used the last of the coffee Wednesday afternoon.  This mom has gotta stay caffeinated and I like my iced coffee in the afternoons.  I had just thought there was another can of coffee for the morning, whoops, my bad.  Unfortunately in order for the show to go on this mama needs her caffeine so I did the unthinkable.  I drank the thick, nasty, 3 ½ tablespoons of coffee that were left in the bottom of the pot from the day before.  This is not something I am proud of but it had to be done. People were depending on me today I needed to be sharp!

So after my coffee conundrum I got the kiddos going. Everyone ate, brushed, washed, brushed, changed, packed, walked, buckled, and we were off to play the Will we make it on time game. I am sure other moms are quite familiar with this game.  If not, here are the basic rules, you may only go five miles over the speed limit, do not hit anyone, basically follow the law, and have each child arrive on time.  This is the fun part; both children must arrive at different locations but at the exact same time.  In order to win you must strategically determine your vehicles route.  Things to keep in mind when playing, green arrow routes vs. no green arrows to turn left,  cut-through streets are advised, turn down radio in order to limit distractions, also keep responses to children short and do not entertain a conversation, you need to put your entire mind into the game.  There will be barriers placed periodically.  Barriers to lookout for include, a funeral procession, city workers cutting tree limbs, road work, accident, first responders, slow-ass drivers, crazy-ass drivers, the good old ‘I am going to get across all five lanes and I don’t care who I make late in the process’ drivers, squirrels running across the road, and many more.

So I strategically played my game this morning and I was victorious! My daughter arrived twelve minutes early to kindergarten and my son arrived right on time to preschool.  On to the next game of the day, How much can I save at the super market?  

Maddy Grace with her smiling face

behind the wheel, the grocery store will never be the same again.

Unfortunately I did not save as much as I would have liked due to the fact that my one year old was not being cooperative.  Though, it should be noted this is the first time I have gone without my preschooler to help me. Boy is he a good helper, seriously.  I find it amusing that it is easier for me to go to the grocery store with all three kiddos as oppose to just one.  Anyway, Ms. Maddy started off all excited in the little car that is attached to the cart. She was all smiles and giggles while she honked the horn.  Then, two minutes later she was bailing.  So I did what any good great mother would do in this situation and I bribed her with food.  That always get them to shut up  be happy.  So we managed to get through produce while she ate some puffs then proceeded to throw them all over the floor.  So I held her for a few minutes which SO did not work! I could not juggle coupons, list, food, baby, pushing that darn car cart with no child in it (it is impossible, you hit everything) and coffee.  Something had to give. So I put the baby in the cart and opened up a box of gold fish crackers, like any great good mother would do. I walked through the dairy and TP isle then she started throwing the gold fish crackers over the side of the cart while waving bye-bye.  AHHHHHH…I needed to get food for the family but at what cost…my sanity…my baby's?   So like any good mother would do I went down the toy isle and grabbed a couple toys to entertain her while I finished shopping.  At which point I would pull them away and toss them into the nearest bin/shelf and she would scream at the top of her lungs. But that would be in the future, and I would worry about that then, she is happy now. At this time I had about fifteen minutes before I had to be in the checkout line in order to have enough time to pack up the car and drive to pick up my preschooler. Well, long story short, I grabbed the necessities, pried the toys, she screamed, I gave her my phone, she smiled, she dropped the phone, it broke into pieces, we both wept, and then we got in the car to pick up my little man. Unfortunately this was not my best round of How much can we save at the Super market but I did survive it so, I will chalk it up to a success.

Content but clearly upset with me. 

She is definitely saving the drama for her mama.

I managed to pick up my little man on time and we headed home and once there we unpacked the car, unloaded the groceries, placed reusable bag back in car (otherwise I forget them), made their lunch, they ate lunch, and then kiddos went down for a nap.  I have been waiting for this all week, an hour to myself. I planned on folding laundry, making lunch for tomorrow and some muffins for breakfast, leaving me with ½ an hour to read my book. Then it happened, just like last Thursday.  The phone rang.  NOOOOOO! I began screaming in my head of course because the kiddos were trying to sleep.

It was my daughter’s school.  I was informed that she threw up and needed to be picked up.  So I got everyone up from nap time and into the car to go pick up my throw-upper.  Gosh darn it! I yelled as I drove to pick her up, I was so close this week.  Last week it was my son requiring appropriate footwear and this week it was my daughter throwing up.  I started laughing; God must have a sense of humor.  Then I quickly stopped and seriously considered the fact that something could occur next Thursday as well. Should I fear Thursdays?  No, as the proud champion of Will we make it on time, I will embrace Thursday!  I will find the unknowing, the mystery, the excitement of it all thrilling!  So welcome to my first installment of Thrilling Thursdays.

So close!