WILTW: This Last Week of 2010

As always, little life lessons are learned in as little as a week, and that's why it is always fun to reflect.

1. The first one I learned just yesterday, while trying to load photos from Christmas Eve in my family blog. Google only allows 1 GB for photos/images and I had exceeded my limit, starting my blog back in the fall of 2007. What? I didn't know there was a limit, and I guess with videos, that goes up quickly. So, I had to purchase 20 GB more for only $5.00. Have any of you had to do that yet?

2. I've learned too, that I dislike my method of "housing" my photos in iPhoto and folders on my desktop versus my old method of using some great Nikon software that was no longer compatible with my upgraded software. It is so much harder to resize and name my photos in one easy step. I must resort to something new. I really like all my photos stored in folders by month and year on my desktop for easy historical reference. It is going to take some time, but maybe that needs to be one of my New Year's resolutions, along with losing the 5 pounds I've gained over the holidays (since Halloween), right?

3. I learned that being 40 and getting little exercise in one's life, due to having a little one and less time definitely has its setbacks. After sitting on the floor helping to unwrap/play with new Christmas toys, lifting one's 37 pound child into a toddler swing moments later can send sharp pains in one's back, causing major discomfort for multiple days afterward... :(

4. Christmas is sure a blast with a 3-year-old. And, he can cry when he sees that Santa ate all the cookies and drank the milk that was left out for him.

5. Bean bag chairs are still really cool, and even better "lounge-size" so Mommy can also sit in it with child to read stories. It is also awesome for a great nap.

 

For more fun stories, check out Julie's blog.

WILTW: Holiday Goodies

Julie from Inmates to Playdates always has this hilarious post on Tuesdays that you have to check out, and join!

This week's in particular cracked me up, on the theme of the Cookie Exchange. I am so glad I have not EVER been under the pressure of attending a cookie exchange with there being a contest, like Julie's. That would be just toooo much! Especially when this year, I actually selected my recipe at 5:30 in the morning and had it made by 6:15 to make sure we had enough time to make my friend's cookies as well, who was visiting for the weekend, and also attending the luncheon/cookie exchange at noon. We had a lot to do! Anyhow, that pressure of having the most (or not having the same as another's would have been too much for me). I was also under the pressure of not having any cardomom (seriously...I'd never heard of that!) for my friend's spritz cookie recipe, so I was also on the search for an alternate for her. The things we do for friends, right?

Anyhow, I ended up making Blondies, a super sweet bar cookie, which was delicious and easy, since I only had to throw it in the oven once. We had a great time making my friend's cookies though, all morning, with the help from my son.

So, for this week, I wanted to reflect on what I've learned about holiday goodies:

1. The 2-3 extra pounds one gains around Halloween and Thanksgiving has no hope of coming off during the Christmas season.

2. One CAN have too many Christmas cookies through cookie exchanges and friends. Okay for a little while, then the husband starts complaining about the temptation.

3. One can think one has all of his/her baking done, only to find an amazing recipe at a cookie exchange, for these cake balls, and just HAVE to make them. Good excuse to have the hubby take them into work, right? I am currently in the process of making the chocolate/cream cheese ones and the white cake/cherry ones. Did all the batter yesterday and it is in the fridge waiting for me today to make the balls and dip today.

4. If you're like me and you love wrapping presents, it can take keeping your child in daycare/preschool just so that you can get those holiday presents actually wrapped. Otherwise, he'd sneak in while you're doing it or you'd be up 'til midnight. (Okay, some of you do that midnight thing...but not me.)

5. One's credit card bills can increase during the holiday season when one didn't start with any sort of holiday budget, due to this crazy economy. I'll take that as a goodie though, in that I could at least do that. Some aren't so lucky.

Wishing everyone a really wonderful holiday!

WILTW: Fun Times

I love thinking about what I learn each week, and it is even funner when I have a moment and I think, "I have to blog about THAT one." Had one of those this morning. See #1.

This week I learned:

1) Arguing with your 3-year-old about who is going to empty the pee filled potty bowl into the toilet, pulling it back and forth, won't get what Mommy is after (her emptying it). Instead, said bowl will be pulled out of Mommy's hands and child will quickly, somewhat "toss" the filled bowl toward the toilet, resulting in pee NOT in the toilet, but rather all over bath toys, magazines, potty seat, floor rug, etc. and Mommy ranting and raving about the situation doesn't change it. Hey, at least he wants to help, right?

2) You may be concerned your 3-year-old won't want to sit on Santa's lap. Instead, you have to be careful that he doesn't pile drive himself into the side of Santa's leg, running so hard to get to him.

3) Your child can wake up and insist you are too, because he needs to take care of things (see #1), and you have to get up at 4:55 AM, 3 days in a row (including the weekend!). Then, comes a school day, and YOU have to wake HIM up. What's up with that?

4) You can want your child to make a cook Christmas decoration, but when he's had enough, he'll stick the foam glitter stickers ANYWHERE but where you want them to end up.

5) Lastly, children sure make our lives more interesting, don't they?

For more, see Julie's blog.

WILTW: Illness

Some weeks are busier than others when it comes to learning, and this week's, well, it was interesting. If you are sensitive to sickness, you may want to skip this post.

Here are a few:

1. Husbands do not, I repeat, DO NOT like it when your son vomits in the back of their nice car (and of course, some hits the front too, as his carseat is positioned in the middle of the backseat.) Julie, picture this happening in your new Saturn. Wouldn't you just DIE?

2. They like it even less when they too, spent the day home sick with a cold as well.

3. You can receive "I need you at home," text messages while you are in an important meeting about 30 minutes away. You try with all your might to hope it can be managed without you.

4. You can receive more insistent texts, and calls, upon the second "getting sick" as soon as the two of them start eating dinner together (while the mess is still in the car) and you really shouldn't leave your meeting.

5. The 30 minute drive home can seem like forever as you call your boss and coworker and plan the following day's work together, as you know you will be staying home with said child.

6. Children of the age of 3 can learn quickly, how to use a bucket when sick.

7. Pulling up the floor rug, sleeping on the sofa, and making a bed for your child on the living room floor can save a lot of mess in the long run. (I did do that, not learning the hard way).

8. In the process of all of this, your husband, while sick with a cold, can also come down with pink eye. (Oh, did I also mention you have a cold in the midst of all of this?)

9. 15 days after having a sore throat, it might be best to get in to see the doctor (going today).

10. Your family (or you) tend to get sick on important days, i.e. meeting, and missing seeing Christmas lights at the zoo. It never fails.

To see other interesting adventures, see Julie's blog!

WILTW: Christmas Decorating

 Have I mentioned already how excited I am for this holiday season?
I was thrilled to actually start on Thanksgiving morning, working with my son to build a colored paper garland for our tree.

Making decorations with a three-year-old is GREAT fun, really it is, and I had to refrain from wanting to all our decoration making activities over the weekend.

Well, Friday we got right on some more Christmas events, like putting up the tree (that photo was from Friday) and making a gingerbread house.

Here are some things I learned along the way:
1. It says on the box that the icing should sit after assembling the gingerbread house for 15 minutes. Next year I will wait longer than that. See #3.

2. I guess you can eat the gingerbread as you make it? I've heard people saying since that they eat their gingerbread houses. When? Right after you make it? On Christmas when it is hard and nasty? I just figured you made it to look at it?

3. Back to #1. Important to let it sit long enough to harden. Or, have Mommy not work so hard on spreading the icing on the roof while the roof is on.

  

4.  Just because your son looks cute wanting to open the Christmas decorations that you think aren't breakable doesn't mean they aren't. Christmas ornament + tile = broken mess.

5. Dogs are fun to decorate too and will put up with a lot to please their owners.

For more, see Julie's blog on suggestions on making Christmas time easier.

WILTW: Artichokes Grow WHAT Way?

Some weeks it is really hard to reflect on what I've learned, but this week, when I saw it, I just KNEW it would have to be in my What I Learned This Week post!

1. Here it is, and do you know what it is?

Brussel sprouts. Yeah. That's how they grow! I was at a local organic food store, picking up other items and saw them there. It is kind of like when I saw pineapple growing at a farm in Hawaii. I had no idea!

2. Another thing I learned this week is that my son is at THE perfect age to want to be with me in the bathroom every morning, observing me do all sorts of things. I won't go into detail on this one too much, but one morning, after I'd used the restroom, he remarked, "Mommy, you have a ribbon!", pointing, well...down there. "Yes...I do," was all I could say, while holding back huge laughter.

3. Lastly, I've learned that Halloween through Christmas flies by when you have children. I haven't even put away all the Halloween stuff yet (stacked up in my room), and I'm hauling _____ to try to get my Christmas cards ready to get printed. Like Julie from Inmates, I love to do my holiday cards this coming weekend (well, she likes to be done by then), and I'm not sure I'm going to make it!

What have you learned this week?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What I Learned this Week

A week passes by like...a flash in the night. (Is that the correct metaphor? I always get them mixed up. It is a trademark of mine.)

The week passed by like a firefly in flight? Ooo...rhyming now...

Anyway, to the point. I have to really think about what I really learned last week. It went by super fast, but was definitely eventful.

I did learn:

1) A little boy can fall in love with a pair of mud boots and have to wear them day in and day out, even with his jammies.

2) Three-year-olds can be just as challenging (and lovable) as two-year-olds. I thought maybe a magic button could be pressed on the actual birthday, to stop the strange and unusual behaviors, but...his button must need new batteries. Still though....lovable.

3) Bountiful Baskets (I made no money for this reference) has amazing produce! I just did my first order last weekend, splitting it with a friend, and am doing it again this weekend. Everything was sooo delicious!

4) The voters in the area where I work (I live outside of our district) let us down on a proposition for educational funding for specials (art, music, and pe). It makes me angry, sad, and wondering what I'll do for our son when he gets to kindergarten. I love public education, but is it going to be right for him, minus all the specials? Will the funding be available for them by then? Will we, as parents, need to pay to help provide those opportunities? Will I, as a believer in all the specials have to be creative and develop some homeschooling opportunities for him?

5) I need to work on getting my son to hold my hand in parking lots and such. He has always been fiesty about this, but it is going to have to become a "have-to". He has random bouts of wanting to run off and it is terrifying me.

What have you learned this week? Check out Julie's blog to see more!

What I Learned this Week

This was a very big week for learning, and here are just a few of the things I learned:

1. The biggest? A two-year-old can be thrown out of daycare for attacking a parent. No, not my child, another one who had been constantly biting my son. Yes, he attacked me, trying to scratch me, spit on me, and kick me, then threw things at me. Well, this wasn't the first incident, that that doesn't count at THE only thing he got thrown out for, but wow...that was a shocker. I learned crazy two-year-olds can take you by surprise.

2. Red is a difficult color to make with food coloring. At least my son didn't really realize his cupcakes were more pink than red for his birthday at school. I heard red is hard. Any suggestions?

3. A 6' 6" man can throw his back out and become quite unmovable. But I also learned he can heal a lot faster than expected. That's been a big plus.

4. When asking your newly three-year-old son what he'd like to be when he grows up, he can answer, "A flower." I hope that isn't the case, for numerous reasons. I hope he doesn't hate me later in life, for putting that on my blog too!

5. Three can be more challenging than two. The age that is. I've been told by three people anyway. I might be in for a rough year.

6. When you realize you've hit 55:00 on your microwave timerfor your lasagna, realize at 53:00 that you've actually turned ON the microwave, not the timer, and go to reset it. Be cautious you are paying close attention, because you might actually, in also turning on the microwave light, get a little crazy and turn off your oven that was once cooking your lasagna, and be terribly disappointed, once the timer does go off, that the oven is not as hot as you expected, and your lasagna, which you were anticipating for dinner, now STILL has to be cooked, and you have to now make something else, while it cooks.

7. It IS possible to successfully take a three-year-old grocery shopping and actually have a good time. It just takes some prep work.

8. You can warn your child all you want, that he better get wherever he's supposed to be by the countdown of 5-4-3-2-1, then be prepared to follow through with the consequence you threatened, as he WILL test you, you WILL have to follow-through, and he WILL pitch a hissy fit.

9. It can feel like your house will truly never be clean, or picked up, or that you'll have the time (or energy) to do so.

10. Fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, even if it is at 9:15 PM.

For more, see Julie's blog.

WFMW: Doing it all at once

Been eating Activia or Yoplait lately? See their pink lids? My husband and I have been saving up our lids, dragging them home from work (after a good lick, of course), and keeping them in a ziploc bag to enter online (the Activia ones) all at once and send the Yoplait ones in as well.

As I write this - actually, I took a little break to write this - I am putting all my codes in at the Activia site, all at once. It is a great task when you're at home from work with your husband who threw out his back. Isn't that awful? Well, maybe that's why I have the time to do it on a normal busy day, really.

I think that's the trick with things that add up. Keep them and then do it all at once. Works with laundry too, you ask? Well, maybe not so well as it takes much longer, but for other things it can:

*dishes from the day (note I mentioned day, not week)
*sending short email responses
*Christmas cards
*you name it

What do you save up and do all at once?

For more ideas of what works for others, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week: Colored Frosting

I had a BIG "Ah ha!" this week that some of you may laugh at. You see, a few weeks ago, I made some Halloween cookies with my son. I kept wondering where you were supposed to find colored frosting. I only saw white, sprinkled and chocolate in the store. With it Halloween season, where was the orange frosting?

Some of you are thinking, "Duh...." Right?

Well, I decided for my son's birthday party last weekend, that I wanted to make him this cake. After my 40th b-day cake that I made, and I swore I'd never make another, this was quite a feat to undertake, but I was ready.

Part of the ingredients were for food coloring for the frosting. So THAT's how it is done! For being as old as I am and never having done anything with food coloring, that was a BIG thing to learn! It was fun to try to make the exact color I wanted, and I'm even more eager now to decorate more sugar cookies with frosting in the future. :)

I made sure to give myself plenty of time, when my son was sleeping, to decorate. I didn't have any special tools and mainly used a small butter knife to get in those tiny places. I learned it might be nice to have some accessories, and also make the frosting thicker. One thing I left off were the windows. I wasn't sure how to even tackle them.

I think it turned out okay though, do you?

Here's the final product the night before, with candles, and during our celebration.

He immediately knew it was Mickey's Clubhouse and that thrilled me. The tough part was cutting it all up into pieces!

It has actually made me feel adventurous and want to try more things related to cake/cookie making, so we'll see what lies in my future!

What did you learn this week? To see what Julie learned, go here.

What I Learned this Week: Halloween Time

I think I'm in love with the holiday season (any holiday) have a child. It is loads of fun, but also loads of work too. Here are some things I've learned in the last week.

1. People dressed up in animal costumes for Halloween can be very scary and only Mommy should go near them (his perspective).

 2. Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas can be scary to Mommy, but intriguing to son (his perspective) and call for a High Five!

3. The time spent making a Mickey Mouse shoes and shorts for your son can be well worth it, and having a practice day, trying on the costume and trick-or-treating with Mommy helps.

4. Halloween time can be LOADS of fun as a parent, seeing it through your child's eyes.

5. The theme the staff choose at your work, for dressing up for Halloween, (Toy Story 3), can be exciting, and cause you to have to create yet another costume for yourself in just a few days (well, really nights as a working girl...oh, that came out wrong...working professional).

6. Working on a costume can cause you to miss your favorite shows and have to DVR them, so friends, don't tell me anything about the most recent Survivor, last or this week's and Amazing Race!

What are some things you love or learned about Halloween?

For more, see Julie's blog!

What I Learned this Week

I have learned a number of interesting (at least to me!) things this week:

1) An almost three-year-old boy can be as opinionated about his clothing as a woman my age. Each day he wants to pick out a certain color of top to wear. Today he wanted blue stripes. Hm...we didn't have anything to fit that exactly, according to him, and when he finally did decide, he didn't care for the pink trim on the inside of the polo's collar. "Turn pink off!" he exclaimed! You might ask why I let him be so particular, right, that it is my fault? Well long ago, I started offering him two choices each morning for an outfit, choices I'd already put together. He's just added to that.

2) A movie is never as good as a book. I just finished Eat Pray Love, which in actuality, I didn't love, but thought I'd go see the movie for some me time. It was okay, but the movie producers took some shortcuts and added in some thoughts of their own. Did you see it/read it?

3) I may have a number of days off this and next week, but they can rapidly be filled with things. Too many things (I know that's not a sentence. I'm just trying to make a point).

4) Today my car is scheduled for an intensive cleaning and waxing. First thing my son wanted to do this morning is go look at the stars in the dark sky. We couldn't see any, because the storm clouds have rolled in. Nice for a car wash, an expensive one, isn't it? We all need our money, including the detailer, so I won't cancel. I hope this comes back in my favor one day.

5) Having a child (or maybe it is just my age?) can make you need more sleep and wake up feeling like you've had less sleep as well as having moved furniture all day-the pain in your back and neck-...oh wait, is that from "flying" my 38 pound son around the house and lifting him in and out of the swing set?

For more, see From Inmates to Playdates.

WILTW: Being a Mom and Wife

Whew! What a week of lots of learning. Here are some of the finer things I learned this week:

1. Your child can do well potty training with a treasure box of goodies to choose from. Problems though: the cost and frequency of having to buy new things for it, and when to stop! I swear he is going just to get a treat!

2. Two-year-old best friends can make your child's lower lip quiver and he'll cry when they both shout, "No!" at him playing with them. Makes a mom sad.

3. I am ecstatic Amazing Race is on again! Okay, maybe no learning involved there, except that I think the opening sequence with the host was filmed separately than the actual views of the racers. Did anyone else sense that too?

4. Having jury duty postponed can't be all that bad, in that it was supposed to be last week when I was super busy, and now I have it tomorrow, when I'm slightly less busy (though others have to pick up my slack).

5. Two spouses coming home grumpy from a day of work isn't all that great.

6. Party City's coupons for $10 off Halloween costumes can be deceiving, when it reads, "for costumes $ ____ - $34.99" and the one you want is $39.99. Not to mention some are even higher. I may not dress up this year. I was hoping to, but too expensive!

7. A $.49 horn from Party City can really excite your toilet training toddler as a "prize".

8. An almost three-year-old can have definite opinions about the shoes you buy, and say, "No want "doze!" No went "dem"!" and pull them off on the way to daycare (that is after you have snuck them on while he was watching TV after a prior issue with them).

9. Being too busy during a week and not being able to run your normal errands can make you want to pull your hair out. I'm glad I have some extra to spare!

10. Taking your husband and child grocery shopping can be interesting and your child can put on behaviors you've never seen before. Your child can also eat a banana in the store (way worth your sanity) and you own the grocery store an IOU because you are so concentrating on getting out of the store you forget to have them weigh an extra banana to pay for it.

What have you learned lately?

What I Learned this Week: The Ahh Moments

Do you ever find yourself saying or thinking "Ah....?"

Here are just a few of mine from the week.

1.  There is more than one use for an empty roll of toilet paper. (His doing, not mine.) Ahh...so smart!

2. Weeks can go by where your child listens for the most part and is happy-go-lucky. The husband even comments at how patient the wife is (that's me). That can all crumble in one day, when one's child wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, and so does the mom. Ahhhh!!!!!!

3. You can leave the house of people who had you over for dinner (who your child knows rather well), and he can call out, "Bye George and Martha (not their real names), I love you!" and you and your husband turn and smile, so tickled at your son. Ahh...so sweet!

4. You have Girls' Night Out, and you are tickled to even just have to time to drive alone in the car, with your music playing, the 30 minutes it takes to get to the restaurant. Ah...heaven. Then there was the great company and food!

5. Ahhh...the call from the doctor's office that they've sent in a prescription for antibiotics for what you believe to be a sinus infection that hit you like a ton of bricks over the weekend, and you don't have to miss work during a busy week to go to the doctor. And even more "Ah....for only $7.15."

What has been a moment lately that has caused you an "Ah," moment?

See what Julie has to share about what she's learned too.

WILTW: Toys

I've been learning a lot lately. Doesn't it seem like there are weeks when we do, and others where we forget so much?

I went to this neat Mom2Mom sale this weekend in our area, where mom sell their baby and toddler items out on tables, just like you would for a yard sale, but in the comfort of an air-conditioned hotel conference room. If I had a baby still, it would certainly be the place to sell. Having a tall 2 1/2 year old, however, I was somewhat limited to toys and books, as he is on the tail end of his 4T clothes, moving into 4s right now already.

What I've learned lately is that no matter whether a toy is used or not, if a little one thinks it is cool, it doesn't matter how much it costs. Case in point:

This is a toy train that comes apart (the cars do), that I got in a ziploc bag for $3.99 at a resale shop this summer. It has been one of his favorite toys since! He can put lizards or dinosaurs, or little characters in the rail cars, and pull it around all over the house.

Keeping this in mind, I found some great little toys at the Mom2Mom sale, knowing that even though he may get only a few months of use out of them at his age, it mixes things up a bit and allows him a few more options for play, while Mom saves some money!

One thing that has come up in conversation lately with friends is:
How many toys are too many toys? What do you think?

I am all into getting rid of the toys your child is too young for, so we don't have many of those laying around, but do you find your child is growing so fast that they need a variety?

For more, visit Julie's blog.

WILTW: Stress Relief

What I learned this week (and for more, see Julie's blog) was how to cope with lack of sleep and stress. Being a mom at 40 is sure a lot harder, I'm guessing than 20, but I'm so much older and wiser, right?

Some of these are anti-stress related, some not.

1. Feeding ducks at the zoo lake is a lot more fun when there is actually food in the machine. (Last weekend we put money in, only to discover there was no food. How do you explain that to a 2-year-old?)

2. A hike in the mountains can be so relaxing and fun, away from the heat. Anytime I feel stressed, being outside is my best cure. Okay, that's not me, but picture my face on the other side of the receiving end of the pinecone.

3. Reading is relaxing. Okay, not me again, but I think I'm going to attempt to do some reading around my son soon, so we can both relax and enjoy our own books. I found him here one day, all on his own with a book I'd brought home from his daycare.

4.  A digital clock may just help your son understand staying in bed. We're working on 5:20 right now, versus 4:15...AM

5. Non-stress related.....it sure is fun starting a blogging club for early teens. I had a blast with them yesterday and they are soooo excited! The most excited ones are 2 boys too!

WITLW: Lots and Lots 'o Things!

Yes, it has been another week of learning a lot of things....I guess when you have a toddler, perhaps your learning ability is on as quick a speed as theirs?

1. Since I'm linking back to Julie at From Inmates to Playdates, one of hers was that she learned cactus can have beautiful flowers. Yes they can Julie! Here's one from our yard last week!

On the cactus note, I learned my son, at 2 1/2, knows cactus out and about when he sees them!

2. Spending a day giving a presentation in another city can really be inspiring and refreshing with the right people, for the right people.

3. Two nights of good sleep can make one feel so refreshed (note #2 was refreshing too!) and alive.

4. Great food when one is feeling down can lift one's spirits. See this amazing recipe for carnitas! Amazing! Thanks Becca, for the recommendation of the site! I'll be back for more. My son may not have wanted his (He actually threw it at me and got in big trouble...way big trouble...but I was so engrossed in my dinner I got over it, and he later got a quesadilla after he apologized.)

5. Having a complete meltdown can be good for the soul. I'll never forget crying in the hallway and my son pulling out his toy piano and making it play while my husband tried to console me. So sweet. It also ended in a pedicure later in the day (also refreshing, especially if you get little flowers painted on, and little blue jewels...ah...so happy), and a few hours away shopping, needed shopping, but a little break.

There were oh so many more things I learned, but these were some of the highlights. What did you learn this week?

WILTW: Too Much

I learned way too much this week, big lessons that I'll never forget and little things I'll never understand.

1. The latest, tonight, that external hard drives fail, and you can spend an inordinate amount of time trying to save to them (like 4 hours?) until you realize its death has come.

2.  Working on a computer with no backup (yes, I deleted all my old ones trying to make room on my hard drive) is quite scary . My great husband has offered to give me his, but is currently moving files to do so.

3. Keypad on laptops should not be cleaned with Magic Erase and a little water. Yes, I shorted out my keyboard and had to get it replaced today at work (hence all the backing up and such). Do I feel like a schmuck? yes.

4. Even though children finally sleep through the night, their nights are often much shorter than ours when they decide to get up. 4:30 AM has been a trend the last 5 nights. I finally made a "morning bag" in the bathroom to grab and go get ready in our other bathroom so as not to have two parents awake too early.

5. See that sweater in my profile pic? Ever used a sweater shaver? Well yesterday I decided it was looking a bit pilly, so I decided to shave it while I was wearing it. I don't recommend that, especially in a bra with an underwire. When the little shaver hits the underwire, well, it makes holes in your sweaters. Like my external harddrive, my sweater has met its end.

6. Lastly, well, and I don't even want to admit this one, I made a big boo-boo this summer at work and read a colleague's notes in the same way others had written theirs, and this person had done the opposite (not my fault, right?). This caused numerous rearranging of students today and me being VERY upset with myself last Friday. Really upset. You know when you've really messed up but everyone else acts like it is no big deal, but you know it is. Ahh...that was Friday. BUT, a great buddy at work brought me pretzel M & Ms today. Have you tried those? Delish!

7. The biggest thing I've learned (okay, not really, but it is last), is that I am really struggling keeping up with postings and reading my favorite posts due to life lessons and responsibilities. I've had to tell myself it is okay, and that I'll find some balance again one of these days. So please forgive me if I haven't read yours lately. It is taking all I can to check my email.

Frankly, I think I learned enough last week to last me awhile. How about you?
See more at Julie's blog.

WITLW: Noses can be funny

Well, I have learned a lot this week, things I've mentioned about monsters, that I can survive on little sleep (and so can my son), but most of all, that noses can be funny.

Picture this:

I'm lying in bed last night next to my son, trying to settle him to go to sleep. I'm faking that I'm asleep, to get him to rest too. I hear him whisper, "Eye," and touch my eyelid, then "Lips," and touch my lips, and then, "Nose," and he touches my nose. Then he pinches my nose and says, "Nose." I just bust out laughing, then so did he. Oh...that does not help a toddler go to sleep! At that point, he just kept saying, "One more time! Nose!" and wanted to pinch it again.

I can't wait to see what tonight holds.

On that nose note too, think I can get an almost 3-year-old to wear a black clown nose for Halloween, for his Mickey Mouse costume?

For more, see Julie's blog. What did you learn this week?

WILTW: Toddler Traveling Tales

This last week, I learned a number of things and if you interested in what others have learned too, see Julie.

1. Traveling with a toddler can be exhausting. (What is up with that hair???)

2. Harness backpack can be made to look cool and make your child FEEL cool. (Note he's buckling his own backpack above.)

3. Kentucky can make you hot and sweaty.

4. Eating leftover carrots that you feed animals on a farm is cool (even if you refuse to eat them at home). See photo above.

5. Arm farts (we call them "toots") are funny when done with cousins.

6. Sprinklers can be cold.

7. Big slides are fun feet first.

8. Chicken eggs you find on a farm get "messy" when you throw them.

9. Knowing how to evacuate a plane is important.

10. It is quite rare, I hear, to be invited into the cockpit for a tour by the pilot prior to boarding. Lucky fellow!