Naptime Blog

I hate to say it, but the stores have been stocked with Halloween costumes and candy for a while now, and I have even seen some stores with Christmas items!  I feel like with each year, retailers rush it even more!  I am not even ready to deal with the fact that summer is over and school has started (which I really need to catch up to reality because summer is in fact over and school is very much in full swing already!), never mind the thought of having to start Christmas shopping!  Ugh!

Good thing is I have already figured out with the kids will be for Halloween.  The joke is that my son Louis is “Louie the Lion” (although we don’t call him Louie otherwise, it is either Louis or Lou), and my son Anthony is “Tony the Tiger” (ditto, he is Anthony or Nee-Nee, not Tony).  So we have a Lion, we have a Tiger, so naturally we should have a bear, right?  So my son Joseph will be the Bear.  And I would have liked my daughter Juliana to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, but she is getting to “mature” to dress like her baby brothers, so she has decided on some Goth princess costume.  Oh, joy!

With four kids including a newborn, I do not have the energy to get the Halloween decorations out.  Well, I should say, my husband will be the one to get them out from the attic.  So I do not have the energy to keep asking him to get up there to get the Halloween decorations down for me.  He is a wonderful husband and Daddy, and although I do not stop from early morning until late at night with the kids and writing and working and taking care of the house, etc…, but he is out of the house all day and to climb the ladder to get into the attic and search out the decorations is something that needs to be done on the weekends instead of after work.  But our weekends are constantly filled with parties and other social functions.  But I will start asking tonight anyway!

Then the real rush begins.  Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and with that comes all the hustle and bustle of the holidays… Huge dinners, getting together with family, and shopping.  And more shopping.  And, you guessed it… even MORE shopping.

We have a big family.  Everyone loves to give the kids toys (along with much appreciated winter clothes!) for Christmas.  In the past, we overload the kids with toys as well; toys from us, toys from Santa.  And last Christmas, with three kids, our living room looked like Toys R Us exploded in it.  Then we needed to find homes for all of these toys.  This year, we have four children to open gifts.  My husband and I have decided to do away with the 97 gifts per child (I AM exaggerating, although not by much!) and focus on one larger gift for them instead.  I would like to get my daughter a laptop, although she is still so young for anything that fancy.  She just needs something to do homework on and play some games.  She will be thrilled.  For the twins, I was thinking of getting them either a swing set for outside (but they would not be able to use it until it gets warmer) or a television for their rooms, maybe with one of those interactive video play game sets.  And for the baby, since he will only be three months old, I can pretty much get him anything and he will be happy with it!

I like the idea of gift certificates for my parents and my husband’s parents.  I can probably get away with gift certificates for the siblings as well…  Then for everyone else, I usually resort to an updated photo of the kids in a nice frame.  Yes, the holidays get very expensive in our house!

I am getting tired just thinking about all of this!  And through it all I will be healing from a C-Section and learning to manage four kids, three under two years old.  Well, there’s no use whining over it.  The holidays come every year, I should try to better prepare for them earlier in the year.  Like maybe January!

 Last year’s holiday photo, minus baby number 4.  They all look so little!

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (1) and Anthony (1)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

I never thought in my lifetime that I would witness or even be apart of a financial depression. I know the media says the economy is turning around, but it doesn’t feel like it from my stand point. My husband and I both FT jobs outside of the home, but it often feels like we are living check to check

I have always been a bargain shopper, we buy store brands, clip coupons and use store shopping programs (MVP, Rewards, etc.) With all of that being said, it stills feel like I am right in the middle of my own great depression. The things we use to enjoy doing, we have had to cut back on. We use to travel a lot more on the weekends and would try a different restaurant as mush as possible. I do not mind cutting back, but I feel like I can’t even live. Work to pay bills, pay the bills so we can work!

It’s a vicious cycle! Ugggg

Take a look at this interesting article from NPR.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113054843

How have you and your family survived these tough economic times??

~Shanta

Lately, I’ve noticed that many stores are carrying more and more store brands. Store brands are popping up on shelves that I haven’t seen them on before now.  Have you noticed that?

I am starting to realize that some of the store brands, in my opinion, even taste better than the original. I love the Great Value Twist and Shout Cookies. They are really yummy. My boys eat the Great Value Graham Crackers almost daily. I think it’s nice that I can save money by buying store brands of toilet paper, diapers, toddler snacks, bread, juice, you name it.

Occasionally, I will find a product that is subpar, such as the Great Value Gallon Storage Bags I recently bought. I think they need some improvement as each one I tried to use tore when I opened it. The good thing is, I am sure they will improve them as soon as they realize this is an issue. Feedback is key to getting quality products from companies.

I have noticed that some of the store brands have started jazzing up their packaging to make the items more noticeable on the shelf. I love the new clean design of some of these brands.

Do you have a favorite store brand? I’d love to hear how you think it compares to name brand products.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

A new baby started at daycare, it has been so rough on Tristan. I am not sure how to get him out of his funk. For the first time ever I am rethinking my decision to be a working mother. I feel so bad about his personal stress. The first day the new baby was there Tristan sat on the floor at daycare and cried and nothing calmed him down. He was not hysterical it was just a whimpering with big crocodile tears. I left work early to pick him up and he didn’t leave my lap all night. Every morning we walk into daycare and Tristan runs over and hugs Mrs. Cora, then sometimes he snuggles or he goes and plays. The day after the new baby started he did not want Mrs. Cora and sat by himself, I felt so bad leaving him. Today is day three and Cora said he is more involved again. I hope this means his sleep gets better. Every night since the new baby started he has been having nightmares and he wakes up shaking and crying so I moved him back in bed with me. 

I think adding to his personal drama is the fact that Cora rearranged the play areas at daycare to accommodate the older children (2-4 years old) that she follows a curriculum with. Tristan does not like the new set up, I think he may be going through an object permanence stage. I hope all of this gets better so I can sleep again and Tristan is not so sad and stressed.

-Chrystal

I’ve recently become a huge fan of the Dollar Tree chain. They have everything you need for just a dollar, how great! The main reason of why I love them is the price of their cleaning supplies. I don’t really go in there and shop for anything else except for like Shaughn’s party, we got plates, forks knives and spoons, decorations and streamers. I spent around $6 total for that stuff! I spend a lot of money in the cleaning department. Window and glass cleaner, multi surface cleaner, a cleaner with bleach for the kitchen counters, antibacterial surface wipes, scrubbing brushes, etc. You get the idea. You need things of course normally, but when you have a kid you automatically go into clean nut mode, or at least I have, and need everything to be clean and safe and especially germ free. The items I listed total $5 and look at everything you’re getting. Sometimes, depending on the brand name, I would spend $5 on ONE item that isn’t even a “multi purpose” solution.

Among the many items at the store, they do have a lovely crafty section. Little cute ideas for small projects, or favors. I actually like what they’ve added in their little wedding section. Talk about wedding on a budget! Whenever the day comes that Brent & I can have a small ceremony and reception for our family and close friends, I am definitely looking to the Dollar Tree for my decoration needs. They even have pregnancy tests there now!! I was at the check out counter and noticed a display of them. I guess whenever I need one, I can save alot of money just buying on there. Of course, I have not tested it so cannot say how accurate it would be but when the time comes, you can bet on where I’m going.

-Krystle

I am amazed with how well my daughter reads now. Her writing is pretty good, too.  I am so proud of how she can express her thoughts in writing…  I think writing is a huge tool for helping with your feelings, understanding your thoughts, and keeping memories.  And the intellectual ability of my little girl is really developing!  It is much easier to have a conversation with her now and having her understand it.  Of course there are still things I need to censor for her, and certain topics that I need to cushion.  And there are definitely topics I think she is still too young for. But my little girl is really turning into a young lady.

Juliana recently started second grade.  As Catholics, she will be receiving two sacraments this school year.  In January she will receive First Penance, and in May she will receive First Holy Communion.  She wants to play basketball in the winter (she played intramurals to learn the basics last year), hoping she makes the girls team.  She intends to continue playing softball in the spring as well.  The new thing Juliana wants to try this year is Girl Scouts, and I am all for it.  She is a very well rounded kid, and I am happy that basketball and softball are in separate seasons, so it would only be one sport at a time and a Girl Scout meeting twice a month.  I believe in after-school activities, however, I do not think our kids should be overwhelmed with a different activity a day.  They should be allowed time after school to express their own creativity by doing their own things such as pursuing writing, crafting, using their minds to create things, etc.  That doesn’t mean that in my house it is NOT a constant battle to turn off the television or the video games! 

Last year, Juliana’s bed time was at 8:30.  This year, she is upset because her friends get to stay up until 9:00.  Basically, the way things work out nightly, by the time she is done showering and getting into her pajamas, taking her allergy medication, giving us all her goodnight kisses, it is RARELY 8:30 anyway!  But it is important for her to be up on time each morning to make the bus, or else it is going to be very difficult for my husband or I to drive her in to school.  So I made a deal with her that if she can wake up without any issues on time and get ready without a fight for a week I would consider making her bedtime 9pm.   The first three mornings were GREAT.  Then we got into a little issue on the fourth morning with running late and not wanting to wake up.  But the fifth morning she did well again.  So I am sure I will get called on my end of the deal one night this week and I will have to start the new bed time.  But if it is going to be a problem, back to 8:30 it goes!  Or maybe I should do 8:45 for a month or so and see if that works.  Although I don’t think she would agree to the compromise!

So my seven year old is getting so big so fast.  My first baby is becoming a little lady, and I am thrilled to say that even with all the bumps along the way (she is developing the attitude of a teenager already at times!), she is really becoming a beautiful little lady!

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (1) and Anthony (1)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

Flu season is in full effect. My oldest son’s school sent home a notice that our local health department is offering free flu shots to all school aged children. The local news mentions something about it every single day. I have many concerns about all these new vaccinations. I am school teacher and I think every single germ floats around my school on a daily basis. The news says that seniors and young children have a greater risk.  I am pretty sure that I am in that at-risk population because of my profession.

Our 8 mo. old has already had a large amount of shots. I don’t know how I feel about him getting 2 additional ones this season. I think I am ok with the normal flu shot that is given every year, but I am unsure about the new H1N1 vaccine. I do not want anyone to get sick and suffer during this horrible flu season, but I do not know enough information about the new vaccines to make a good decision for my family.

We do make sure everyone is practicing good hand-washing. We also dress appropriately for the weather. Is your family getting the vaccine? What are your feelings about this scary flu season?

~Shanta

So, do you like birthdays? I love birthdays. I love the cake, the celebrating, the friends and family being nice to me. It’s like my own special holiday.

My birthday is this month and I have already started dropping subtle hints to my husband about it. I just love my birthday (have I already said that? Oops,  my bad if I did). He always acts baffled as to why I love my birthday. He says, “How could you be so happy to be getting older and older? I have never known anyone who loves her birthday so much!”

I love picking my favorite cake, going out to eat and, I hope, receiving homemade cards from my boys (hint, hint hubby).

It’s not just my birthday that I love. I love making cakes for others, picking out the perfect present and celebrating that special day with friends and family as well.

It only comes once a year for me, but I am glad that now I can celebrate my boys birthdays too. I hope they love birthdays as much as I do. My sisters love birthdays and even our furbabies get special treats on their birthdays. It’s just fun!

Do you like your birthday? What do you do fun to celebrate?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Birthday planning is in full swing. I made the guest list, and sent the invites. We invited twelve families; we thought that was a nice rounded number. In talking we realized those twelve families are equal to forty people! WOW. I guess we are in for a full house. I made Tristan three, 9 feet long banners. They were so time consuming with every thing else I have going on but I am really proud of myself. Even more exciting is that my husband loved them and told me great job! I also want to make the cakes for his party. For Tristan’s smash cake I bought the #1 pan mold from Wilton, for the guests I am doing two 3-D race cars. One cake will be in chocolate cake and one in vanilla. I practiced this weekend and Tristan loved the little bit of icing I gave him. I hope I can get great smash cake pictures, a few of my friends said their children were not into it, but we shall see.

The menu for his party is simple, the weather should be good so we are doing hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ shredded beef and pasta salad, potato salad, and cole slaw. I was thinking of making some desserts but my Mom thinks cake and Ice Cream will be enough. I might still make something else. I can’t believe we are less then a month away. My little boy is growing up. Time for number two I guess.

-Chrystal

You know its crazy when your child has more clothes than you and your husband combined. Shaughn has a closet full of really cute outfits and a bunch of shoes. For his birthday, one of our closest friends, James, went all out on clothes for Shaughn. James has a keen sense of style so you can only imagine how much he probably enjoyed it as well to shop for Shaughn. He bought a bunch of outfits that were all very stylish. On top of new clothes we received for him, we also have a lot… A LOT of “hand me downs” which is all in great condition from my aunt and my sister in law.

As relieved as they were to pack up all those old clothes and get it out of the house, we were relieved to receive those many things that Shaughn will be able to use within the next year or two. I have huge plastic bins for clothes he’s outgrown, and clothes that are too big for him. Everything that he can wear now and even within the next 6 months are hanging up in his closet and are folded in his drawers. Before Shaughn was even born, his wardrobe easily doubled mine and my husbands. I thought we had a lot of clothes at the time but oh no, we were beat. Our sports fan family members already have gotten him something to wear to represent their teams which is a great thing to wear on those game days! Nothing yet of my beloved New York teams though, but that will change soon!

-Krystle