This Full House Archive

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NWF Be Out There Challenge: Day 4 – Here Comes the Sun (dah-duh-dah-dah)

DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Then, Day 2 and it was time to send out for an Ark!

[wipes feet]

Moving on.

I'm scheduled to work at the gym, this afternoon (stupid braces, dumb college fund) but, I left the camera home, with my kids and, well, it'll be interesting to see what they come up with.

Yesterday, I decided to allow my 2 oldest girls to sleep in (as if, I could wake them, or I had any other choice) and took Doofus-Dawg for a walk.

Having spent the last 3 days home, alone, with 2 very cranky teenagers (trust me on this one) my 2 youngest were more than happy to tag along!

"Let's go and visit the waterfall!"

When they were little-er (yes, it's a word!) we would take pre-nap walks into the next neighborhood and visit "the waterfall."

"It used to look a whole lot bigger."

Still, there's something really cool about the water…even if it's simply rushing over an embankment…no matter how old you are, I think.

Not to mention, the moss-lined creek running through our little corner of the suburbs, in Jersey; who'da thunk, right?

Aaaand, there was lots and lots of onion grass!

Good thing, because the fairies, who live under "the waterfall," just LOVE onion soup; or, so I'm told.

Even though he would NEVER admit it (out loud) Glen still believes in flower fairies — yes, he does — especially, when exploring the woods behind our house, or hunting for fire flies in the summertime and most especially whenever his little sister is around.

We spent the rest of the morning, enjoying the playground at Glen's school and, yeah, it was a little muddy.

Still, it's sorta nice to have the pre-commuters' tunnel…all…to…ourselves…and, when you're 8 and 11, being able to jump, run and even shout at each other, without being hollered at, well, life was good.

Until, someone gets a little too close to the fairy soup.

Accidentally falls into said soup (yes, she's my daughter alright!)

Aaaaand…well, then even this Mom knows that it's pretty much time to go home.

"Wait, take another picture!"

No, it may not have been a day in Disney World (seriously, we are perhaps the only family, in Jersey, who has NOT had breakfast with a princess, yet) but, it's nice to know that even a simple walk through our neighborhood, during a rather rainy spring break, can become, you know, totally blog-worthy.

Now take your kids and GET OUT (heh) also, you can visit the NWF site for ideas on what you can do to get these kids outside…besides, promising them a trip to Disney…I mean!

[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program – just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

April 1, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Sleeping In

Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

It stopped raining (YAY!) so looking forward to FINALLY getting out of the house for the NWF: Be Out There Challenge…um…as soon as my two oldest girls, you know, wake up!

[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 31, 2010
NWF Be Out There Challenge: Day 2 – Send the Ark!

DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Moving on. So, it's Day 2 and wanna know how it's working out…so far?

Stupid rain!

[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 30, 2010
NWF Be Out There Challenge: Day 1 – RainFAIL

As a longtime National Wildlife Federation supporter (yes, we have wildlife…in Jersey!) I am very excited to be a part of their Be Out There Campaign and modestly tweeted, the same:

I'm taking the NWF #BeOutThere Challenge w/o March 29! (http://bit.ly/bTeL0C) 'cawse, we've got wildlife IN JOISEY, too ya' know! #NWFMoms

So, here it is, DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge AND you want to know how it's working out, so far?

[blows bangs outta eyes]

Well, feeling inspired by the immortal words of John Lennon:

So, this spring break. And what have you done?
Another day almost over and the rain STILL isn't quite done.

And so this spring break. I hope you have fun.
'Cawse, here at our house, we're watching old game show reruns.

So, happy spring break. It's okay, we're STILL not quite done.

Cross-posted to our 365 Days mircoblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)

With 6 days left, maybe…just maybe…we'll actually get outside AND see the gosh-darned sun!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 29, 2010
Finding Teh Funny

Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — by just me and my little red point-and-shoot!

When I first started blogging, 7 years ago, way back before SEO's and keywords ruled the world wide web, I was chasing after 4 kids, all under the age of 10 and This Full House was ALL about "teh funny!"

"Can I post this picture?"

Although, the subject matter hasn't changed, all that much, really (seriously, these kids say the funniest things) I find myself hitting the "delete" and "backspace" buttons, more often than not, to the point where my "backspace" button is NOW broken and looks more like a nub.

"No, I HATE HOW I LOOK!"

Some days, I am in sync with my muse and the words flow fluid.

"How about this one?"

Other days?

"Pssssht, NO WAY!"

The silence is deafening.

"Heather and I are going for a walk."

Most days, now that my oldest are teens, it gets downright lonely.

"Um, can we take your camera?"

Today?

"Here, you can use this one!"

The fog has lifted.

"We made sure to keep our mouths shut!"

And the words, they come a little easier.

[takes a closer look]

"Yeah, no one will EVER know that you got braces."

Now, if I could only get that darned muse to clean up after herself, I'd be in mom-type-blogger heaven, right about now, right?

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 26, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Ladybug Crossing

Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

Also, got some freshly-brewed crafty handmade stuff over at my shopping blog: Klutz Fashion Origami

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 24, 2010
Comment Troll Award

Whenever my good blogging friend, Dawn (a.k.a. brilliantly funny author of Because I Said So) would complain about being under attack by comment trolls, I imagined a bunch of snotty little evil basterds, camping out on her blog (pictured above) seriously, what IS it with mean-spirited people, anyways?

I mean, the woman has 6 kids, I really don't think she needs any help in dealing with suckage.

I guess I empathize with Dawn's self-deprecating humor, seeing as I've been making fun of myself, openly on the internet, for years now (see virtual tour) and, well, there ARE worse things than making OTHER mothers look good, right?

Then, I opened up my email and found this:

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March 22, 2010
National Wildlife Federation
“Be Out There” Founding Mother
Representing New Jersey, YO!

Did you know that this week, March 15th to March 21st, is National Wildlife Week?

[sound of crickets chirping]

I know what you're thinking — what's next, Worldwide Pond Slime Day– perhaps most parents (like me) will agree (especially, if your children are older) these days, getting kids outside and away from computer games, Facebook, Miley Cyrus, whatever, well, you'd think I was asking them to eat dirt, right?

"But, it's sooooooo hot!"

Heaven knows, I'm no saint (shuddup, Busy Mom and I thought you said you burned those BlogHer pics, Jenn?) I spend more time, at home, sitting in front of a computer, than not.

Then, I get up, get out, go help OTHER people work out and, you know, sit in front of a computer, some more.

"Stay inside, don't forget to lock the doors, oh, and dinner's in the freezer."

It's just a little harder now, you know? I don't like my kids to be outside, when my husband Garth [not his real name] and I aren't home.

Weekends, however, are different!

I have no problem ditching the housework, or kicking the laundry to the corner and getting outside — especially, now that spring is, like, two days away.

Day 76: Family Photo Project

WHOOT, here in Jersey, anything above 50 degrees is considered flip-flop weather!

59°F | °C

Current: Sunny
Wind: NW at 3 mph
Humidity: 35%

Fri

72°F | 46°F

Sat

71°F | 47°F

Sun

71°F | 47°F

This weekend is no different; we've been invited up to Pittstown, NJ to visit with Hope's godparents, a.k.a. two of our most favorite dirt diggers (you know, Sassy's mom and dad) who happen to own a beautiful flower farm, too (yes, here, IN JERSEY!) and I'm taking my trusty little point and shoot camera, with me, to help celebrate National Wildlife Week.

Why? Well, seeing as my kids have been reading Your Big Back Yard and Ranger Rick for years (thank you, Grandma and Grandpa) I am honored to partner with the National Wildlife Federation as a Founding Mother of their Be Out There campaign, along with these fine women:

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March 19, 2010
I Was Vlogging, Before Vlogging Was Cool

I hollered at my youngest (she's 8, going on 16) like I never hollered at her, before, this morning.

I mean, HOLLERED, like a tortured animal, causing the poor girl's eyes to go wide and, well, she ran out of the room, obviously NOT wanting to watch her mommy's head explode, for real!!!

What did she do that was so awful?

[bites lower lip]

Honestly, I don't remember.

Was it reason enough to go WILD on the girl?

Probably not.

Whatever it was, suffice it say, I had reached my breaking point with the child and, well, though I never once thought about hurting her, physically (trust me, I know what THAT feels like) THIS MOMMY JUST NEEDS TO SHOUT OUT, every now and again.

Later, in the carpool lane.

"Do you know why I hollered at you, this morning?"

[eyes go wide]

"I made you mad?"

Well, yes…and no…because, I suddenly realized that it wasn't what she did, or said, that made me angry (not, really) it was that she was STILL doing it and saying she wasn't, while I was trying to tell her, yah, she really was, and to STOP doing it.

"Having to holler, to be heard, makes me mad."

[bites lower lip]

"I hate it when you holler."

[shot to the heart]

"Me, too."

Morale of the Story: Yes, children should be heard, just not today.

Then again, in a blink of an eye, they grow up and you suddenly forget what they sounded like, when they were little.

Unless, you find old videos, while searching through some computer files, she nearly corrupted. Aaaaaand, you just may be all, like, thank goodness you hollered at her to "STOP USING MOMMY'S LAPTOP" or, you would have totally NOT remembered this moment, either!

[bites lower lip]

Right…RIGHT?

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

March 17, 2010
When the Wet Gets Tough, the Tough Get Wet!

Photo cross-posted to our 365 Day Project

So, how was your weekend? Uh-huh. Ours? Well, Jersey got hit with a BEYOTCH of a storm, I mean this thing had monster winds of 40, 60, sometimes 70 miles per hour (so, I heard) it uprooted trees, knocked out power and left some of our neighbors without electricity AND gas.

Us?

[knocking on wood until knuckles bleed]

Just a few extra leaks, here and there.

"Uh-oooooh, found ANOTHER one!"

So, as my youngest children raced each other.

"Nooooo, I found that one, already!"

Playing an indoor-version of ISpy.

"Nuh-uh!"

To see which of them could, you know, find the most stains on our living room ceiling.

"Yah-huh, don'tcha see the pot?!?"

My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I decided that yesterday would be a good time, as any, to leave the kids to their fun, while he and I braved the storm, for some more emergency supplies.

"Could you pick up some Clearisil…I need face make up…could you pick something up at Redbox…aaaand, don't forget the Cheerios, okay?"

Seeing as my two oldest were home recovering from getting their braces (YAY!) and the youngest kids, you know, can't drive…yet.

"Can we come?"

[one beat, two beats]

"NO!"

[lips quiver]

"Buh-buh-but, why not?"

I reminded my son about his sleeping over a friend's house and my youngest that she just spent almost all of Saturday, alone, with me.

"But, you took me to work!"

Okay, but I was training a new hire and, well, I did have her bring crayons and stuff…sheesh!

"Besides, I want some private time with Daddy!"

It's funny, raising teens and tweens, I mean (funny weird, not funny ha ha) how our priorities seem to change.

"Where are we going, again?"

Almost on a daily basis, you know?

"Lowes, Costco and…um…Michaels, I think."

[lips quiver]

"What's at Michaels?"

[hands on hips]

"I'm ALL out of yarn!"

I know what you're thinking; we don't have yarn in our emergency supply kit.

"Maybe I should stay home with the kids."

[one beat, two beats]

"Sure, then maybe you can get an early jump on the to do list."

In our house? I'll pretty much do anything, to avoid spring cleaning, except, maybe something illegal (kids ARE watching, you know?) and, truth be told, it's been a real tough week (for the both of us) and, well, what with the kids crazy school stuff (don't even get me started on our attendance woes) not to mention, my working part-time, into the night (thank goodness, I'm home during the day) Garth [not his real name] and I almost NEVER get any alone time, anymore.

[hands on hips]

Damned if I'll spend it cleaning.

[looks left, looks right and then left]

Okay, all I really wanted was to get back home, snuggle up next to the hubs and work on that crocheting project I started, um, what month is it, again?

"I'll get my wallet."

Just don't tell Garth [not his real name] okay?

[hollers uptairs]

"Don't forget the rebate check."

After a quick-ish stop at Costco for school lunch supplies, of course!

© 2010 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

March 15, 2010