Not another one!

I have tried not to make this a venting blog. I have to say when I have read other venting posts...I feel normal! Thanks for the reality checks. Today was a day that my kids would have loved to give mom a chill pill and make things all better. I had two things that just rattled me today.


Taylin has gotten on a cutting crave. I never knew this could be such an obsession. She had coloring pages and drawings galore. Just as I thought she was forgetting some of them and I could clean them out, yes throw them away, she began cutting them out. This has been going on for weeks now. It won't stop. What irks me the most is clean up time. I wait for her...nothing...then I start to help her and have to quit, because I obviously don't know what is scraps/trash and what is to go in a "portfolio." Today she had her work all over the kitchen table, and the couch AND the floor. All places we needed the space to eat, sit and play. Kennedy could get to the paper and attack the paper. That means eat it! I am still trying to figure out how long this can go on...how long I should let it go on...and how long I can stand it. I have been racking my brain to think of other crafty things she can do with her cutting crave. Please let me know your ideas...I can't take ANOTHER cutting binge! I am very impressed with her skills and the things she cuts on her own. I have a feeling she will be our artsy one. This will be an adjustment, but I am enjoying her talents already!

Cohen is potty training...yeah! Well, I think that is a good thing. Or would I rather have everything contained in a diaper where it is easily gathered and thrown away? Would I also prefer to let him go whenever he wanted without worrying about where it might fall or if he will make it in time? I am almost willing to fork over the extra money to keep him in diapers. He wouldn't do it. He loves being a big boy in his big boy undies. He has been doing really well. I don't have to keep a bucket of laundry soap and water to soak all the accidents and wash a load everyday. Yesterday was a potty in his pants day...just pee, thank goodness. We haven't had any poo poo accidents in a long time. Maybe I said that out loud, because today...he had ANOTHER ONE.



(This photo was his first interest a year and a half ago, so we have definitely made progress.)


This was by far the most disgusting ever. He did the potty dance. I was feeding Kennedy a bottle, so I couldn't help him up to go. He didn't come down for a while. I heard the toilet flush a couple of times and the sink running. I asked him to come down, because it had been long enough. Down comes Cohen with just a shirt on and his underwear and shorts in tow. This usually means he wet his pants. The undies were dry. Oh, he just needs help putting them on. I am helping him and telling him how good he did (still holding the bottle in one hand and Kennedy in my lap). Then confession began. He exclaimed, "Sorry Mommy, I am sorry...Sorry I did poopoo on the 'tool. Sorry mommy!" Hmmm? Turn around Cohen. Oh you need me to wipe. Okay. Wait...you went poo poo and it isn't in the toilet! He is still apologizing before I even go crazy. Due to his apologetic behavior, I can't get upset. Once he is cleaned and dressed and I have delayed as much as I can to see what he is talking about for fear of my gagging reflexes flaring up, blah....I saw the product. I will refrain from more detail as your gagging might begin. I noticed he had tried to clean his underwear. Poor thing, he tried very hard and didn't want me to be disappointed. David was in the other room studying. I didn't want to bother him intentionally, so I pulled the 'talk loud enough with enough detail that he would have to come see what was going on' method. He did come out just in time to keep Kennedy out of the "mess." No more pooh, please! Not to mention I cleaned up a neighbor's animal feces from in front of my door. NOT ANOTHER ONE!


*Sigh* Now I sit here in relief that I survived and hope that my kids aren't scarred from their mother's reactions to a day full of experiences. I look through my blog at all the cute things they do. I cuddled with them as their eyes finally closed for the day. What a blessing they are and what a blessing another experience is to make us stronger in ways we never knew possible.


Enjoy those blessings...I guess realize they are blessing first and then you can fully enjoy them!

Welcome home Surprise

Okay, okay so I, David, am finally making a contribution to my wife's beautiful creation that is our family blog. I obviously need to do better and I will. I just had to make an entry concerning something that happened to me the other day. So let me give you a little background. Each day I return home from work and the kids usually are at the window of our apartment and come running out as they see me pulling up. The other day I pulled up and was welcomed home by something totally unexpected. I pulled up into the parking spot and looked at our apartment window, which was completely void of little faces and waving hands. Instead to my right was a collection of children made up of the neighborhood kids including my own and their respective instruments including drums, maracas, harmonica, etc playing their music in "unison". I had to grab the camera and shoot a little video because the kids were so proud about their little creation. They even asked us parents if they could go door to door and play music for money! You will be glad to hear that we did not allow that but encouraged them to continue to play at least to us. Hope you enjoy their creativity as much as I did! Kids are wonderful.

Tilt your head and enjoy!

K-E-N-N-E-D-Y

I painted Taylin and Cohen's name for their walls. Of course I had to do it for Kennedy too. Once her mobile came down, her wall was blank. I was finally motivated to finish it. I enjoyed it! I don't have a picture of it hung on the wall. Yes, they are on the wall. I only remember to take a picture when Kennedy is asleep. Each letter goes with something in her bedding or decor. Fun, fun!


I don't have a picture of the Taylin and Cohen's names. Here are the wall hangings I painted to match their bedding so long ago.







The details, letter by letter.












My helpers!

Recycling Crayons

Something we have been working on is de-cluttering. The kids have tons of crayons and aren't using them because they broke or they just want to take all the paper off. I remember my mom melting crayons in the plastic to-go cups we got from restaurants. Then she would sell them at garage sales. They are great for little ones learning to hold crayons. I couldn't remember the temperature and other details, so I got some ideas on-line.



Here is a link that I followed:
http://www.chicaandjo.com/2008/04/16/recycle-old-broken-crayons-into-fun-new-shapes/





I found some fun ice trays online for little cost...after shopping around at local stores and no luck, except to pay way too much money. Side note: I did find some neat ice trays that made your ice cubes look like jewels.


Here are some of the results.












If you are interested in doing some yourself, I am more than willing to share the trays. I can't use them for anything else. I can only make so many crayons. I am thinking what else I can use them for. The kids really do like to color with crayons again!




Tips: I would use the stovetop method. I did one in the oven and it tipped...I am sure that can be remedied with a tray under. Also use old pots or your food you cook in it will have a little extra crayon taste. That isn't the spice I have been looking for.

Happy Anniversary Rex and Ashley!

Just wanted to wish my brother and sister-in-law another great year and many more.


Y'all have a great companionship. Remember the little things.


I ran across this sweet photo too. Taylin and her daddy.

First Air Show

I will update you on our latest projects and activities. These are the reasons we haven't posted in a while.

Here are some shots of us at the air show, the first weekend of May.






The kids really had a great time. They were nervous about the explosions from the Pearl Harbor re-enactment. The jet at the end was loud for them. They loved climbing in and out of the planes, helicopters and tanks. Kennedy finally crashed regardless of the noise.

Quesadillas: figured out!

Not the most exciting post, but maybe you will enjoy it at your own table. David and I have finally figured out how to make quesadillas...six years and lots of sour cream/guacamole toppings to make it taste better later. Sure we could have looked it up. So if while we have our "aha" moment you are having a, "duh, Galloways" moment, so be it. It is simple, but oh so tasty. Taylin loves it! Because she loves to dip anything and everything, she still has her picante nearby. Our neighbors tried it and loved it as did their kids! Cohen is the most difficult to please...sorry, still not impressed. If it isn't Malt-o-meal...Daddy's Malt-o-meal to be exact...it is not satisfying. Cohen can regurgitate anything. He can even chew on the same piece of meat for 30 minutes. Well, now that you are completely disgusted, try something yummy:




Whole wheat tortillas


shredded chicken (we boil our chicken, then it is sooo easy to tear apart...also add a garlic to the boil for some extra flava); prepared fajita meat has also proven to be a hit; haven't tried beef or spinach yet!


pico de gallo (had a friend make us some after I had Kennedy and I tried this pico on everything, so also born to the Galloways in 2008 was the quesadillas)


Monteray Jack or Colby Jack cheese



Little butter or cooking spray




I didn't put amounts, because that is a chef's personal choice. Sorry if you would have liked to just cut and paste the recipe, I sort of elaborated where it didn't really need it. Plus, with my own comments, I don't feel like I am copying someone else's recipe...since I haven't looked for one!




Enjoy! We have!