Going Green...

So I am watching The Today Show and all this week they are focusing on global warming and the effects on the planet. In the back of my mind I always knew the environment needed our help, but didn't think I could really make that much of a difference. I mean I recycle, my bin I drag out to the curb is overflowing every week. I am slowly switching my lightbulbs to more efficient ones. My Hubby and I have been trying to winterize our house and make it more energy efficient, albiet hard to do since the house is 130 years old and needs more updating than my wallet can stretch right now. We recently purchased energy efficient appliances, does that make up for the number of times we have to use them, they seem to be on nonstop? I've checked out The Today Show website, they have a link to 7 ways to help the planet in 7 days. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/
I find many of these things I am already doing. What else is there?
So I turned to Oprah, she knows all right! And of course she did a show on Going Green. Check it out... http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200704/tows_past_20070420.jhtml
There is a page of websites to check out for more info as well. Like did you know...Idling 10 minutes less per day can keep 550 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air every year. There is alot of good info here.

So why am I posting on this? I wanted to know what everyone else is doing. Comment back and tell me how you are helping.

PTA Fundraiser Ideas??

Since having the baby I have taken a "break" from the PTA meetings, but I am about to throw myself back into the mix, not sure why I want to do that to myself, but it is all for the kids right?? I find a huge discussion at the meetings is all about money and funding. I am not a huge fan of the fundraiser sales and am looking for any successful ideas from anyone. Right now they hand the kids a flyer full of "stuff" and send them on their way to bombard relatives and friends, coworkers, neighbors, and any unlucky person who looks into the kids' eyes and can't say no. I find it odd that we tell our children- "Don't talk to strangers," but it's ok to sell stuff to them and take their money! Obviously I don't care for these sales techniques. We have discussed bake sales, school yard sales, newspaper collection drives, but I am told these don't "make enough to make it worth it." Are there any creative SAFE ways to raise money for our schools? HELP!!

$4 for 4 Costumes- Yet PRICELESS!!

Ok, so it's time for a bit of Mommy show and tell. I might be a tad biased, but I happen to think I have adorable children. Oldest to youngest, we have a dancer, a snow princess, a kitty cat and a bunny.

Background story on the costumes: The oldest two received hand me down dance costumes from an older cousin, which was Amazing because #1- FREE #2- they were big on them, so being that we live in Michigan I was able to cram a ton of layers underneath. #3- the kids liked the outfits because they came from an older much adored cousin- therefore there was no arguing about them not being COOL enough!

My little kitty cat idea actually came from watching Dora. Annie is obsessed with Dora and in her Halloween cartoon she is dressed as a cat. When we were originally trying on costumes, she screamed with anything on her head. So I was willing to compromise. I already had a full black fleece body suit from the previous year being a pumpkin. We were just going to put that on and paint a few whiskers and call it good, but on my last minute -Oh My Gosh It's Halloween and I Have NO Candy to Pass Out- trip to the store yesterday we stumbled across the kitty cat costume. Amazing because #1- 50% off, therefore costing me a whopping $4 #2- it was her size with enough room to still cram the warm clothes underneath #3- she loved it and showed everyone in the store, no screaming!!

Then there is my bunny. I am a bit heartfelt over the bunny. The bunny was purchased when Molly was born and has been worn by each child. I was so happy when I found this costume because it is almost identical to the bunny costume I wore as a baby. Ok, I'm not going to cry, promise. So my amazing 3- here it goes. Amazing because #1- FREE #2- again roomy enough to multi-layer, even add a hat underneath #3- She loved it so much she slept through all the trick or treating snuggled up inside.

So there you have it, 4 children dressed in 4 costumes for the Amazing cost of $4!!

PRICELESS Happiness had by all!!

Happy Halloween!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!! Our day is full of school parties, costumes and of course trick or treating. Our downtown area supports a trick or treating event and talk about getting a ton of loot, you walk down the sidewalk and open your bag at the doorways and it gets filled. If only my bank would do that with my wallet!!

A wonderful SAFE night to everyone! Let's post those costumes, I love seeing them all!

Pumpkin Update

Looks like someone could use a face lift!!

Well, the pumpkins made it outside, they did not rot and sag in my living room. Quite the scene seeing me carry these huge nasty pumpkins outside. Picture this, large black garbage bag over the pumpkin and then me trying to reach around, avoiding soft spots in order to pick this thing up. Oh, and open the 2 doors on the way, because my children just sat and watched. Thanks guys, big help! So anyways, our pumpkins didn't make it and my Hubby gets to do the trash dump because I am not trying to pick them up again.

Good news: We have a few much smaller pumpkins that we are going to try and find the time to carve to make up for our "sick" pumpkins. The things we moms do!!

Emotional Remodel

So I mentioned that I haven't been getting a ton of sleep lately. Well, my poor hubby was the poor recipient of my lack of sleep. Late last week in my state of exhaustion I started crying, crying and crying all about his long hours at work, my cranky baby who doesn't sleep, the fact that we have 4 children and I feel like I am always two steps behind. (sound familiar?) (And no it isn't postpartum depression, it was a bad day thing) In the end I based my emotion at our bathroom! The bathroom is a remodel project that we have been discussing lately, but with no immediate plans to start. Certainly not right before the Holiday season and definitely not before Hunting season and can you believe my timing I also hit Football season, triple whammy! So to get to the point, the day after my crying spell I came home from dance classes to find my hubby hammering away at the bathroom. Walls are down, ceiling is out, tub is no more...progress, real dirty demo progress!! I am so excited!

We bought an old house and it is crazy what we find when we start a project. We found wood floors under the nasty linoleum. Pulled down the drop ceiling to find that the bathroom height is the 9 ft 10 in. height that the rest of the house is at. Also found an old chisel, but that wasn't nearly as exciting to me. So check back to see our remodel progress!

Swinging Sleep

Why is it only babies get to be rocked to sleep? Is that my million dollar idea I have been waiting to invent? A swing for sleeping adults? So here it is... all week I have had a fussy non sleeping baby, therefore all week my family has had a fussy non sleeping wife and mom. Until 4 am this morning when out of pure desperation for some shut eye, I finally took the baby downstairs put her into the swing and prayed I wouldn't be getting up to take her out in the next 5 minutes. Turns out after 3 hours sleep on the couch she awoke to a much happier mother. Within 5 minutes of awaking I am on the phone to my mom requesting her much more compact swing be brought over to my house for use in my bedroom. Maybe there is still hope for sweet dreams around here.



Dels has acid reflux. She has been on meds for about 2 weeks now. I thought I would see a more calm relaxed baby, but she is still very restless and fidgety. She is not near as spitty, but she still gets crampy and is not sleeping well at all. I have propped her bed up, done the loose clothing, burping. All the things I have been told to do. If anyone else has any ideas I would love to hear them. Have you ever dealt with acid reflux before? Is there hope for more sleep sometime soon?