The pumpkin farm

My parents took our family to the pumpkin farm yesterday.  It was gorgeous out, perfect weather to be outside with all the kids.  I just have one question though, when did the pumpkin farm become the PUMPKIN FARM?  Do you know what I mean?  It's not just walking around the fields picking out a decent pumpkin anymore.  There are bouncy houses, trains, wagons, fun houses, slides, tire mounds, corn mazes, giant Lincoln logs, tractor rides, bouncy pads, pig races, pony rides, mirror mazes, general stores, oh yeah, and some pumpkins.


It was awesome that my mom and dad took us because they also changed prices from last year too.  Instead of being able to pay for a couple of the attractions, it's just a general admission to get into the pumpkin farm-$12 per person (2 and under free)!  I can understand charging for kids but to have to pay $12 for each grown up to stand there and watch their kids play is a little ridiculous.  Don't get me wrong, the kids had a blast, and we go there because of how much they love it there, I just worry that our kids (and by that I mean all children, not just my own) are going to be so used to having things in excess.  We try really hard to teach our kids that they can't have/do everything and just to be happy with what they do have and not complain about what they don't have but I can understand that it must be hard with all the stuff there is to be had...


The kids did have so much fun though and thank you mom and dad for taking us because we are not that nice to pay that much for the kids to run around a pumpkin farm!  My two year old was really fun to watch because he was big enough to do all the activities and he really loved all the bouncy stuff!  I also got some really cute pictures of the baby by all the pumpkins.  My two big kids will go back there on Tuesday for school so we didn't bother buying any pumpkins yesterday.  I love fall!  I'm so glad it's here.  Between school, football, Halloween, and beautiful weather, there is never a shortage of stuff to do!

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Busy Mommy Blogger

Cruel irony

I am so proud of my two year old!  He is finally out of pull ups at naptime AND bedtime!  That's a whole 12 hours of being able to hold it and saves us $40 a month on pull ups!  I was in a state of bliss when I went to pick up the kids from school today so of course I was knocked back into reality.

My son's teacher came out and told me that my son had an accident and they didn't notice until right before I got there.  She told me that the kids were complaining that something was stinky but they couldn't figure out who the culprit was.  I asked my son if he had a little accident and he said yes, he tried to fart but, you know, a little poop came out instead.  Not that this is entirely unusual for him, I'm actually surprised he potty trained as young as he did because he is still the one with the most bathroom issues!

Well, we got in the car and started to drive home.  I asked my son when he had his accident, thinking it had just happened.  He said, "At rest time."  Three hours ago at rest time?  What?  Oh, wait, after about five minutes, I am starting to gag and have to roll my window down just to smell some fresh air.  How could it have only been a little stinky in the classroom when the car smells like a port-a-potty after only a few minutes?  So then he says, "Guess it's time to stop wearing boxer shorts."  He recently switched from tidy whities to boxer briefs.  Sorry buddy, different undies don't encourage accidents.  I reassured him that it was not because of the undies and asked why he didn't tell his teacher.

He told me he thought that everyone would be mad at him and that he didn't know how to clean himself up so he didn't want to say anything.  Aww, now my heart is feeling sad for my poor little guy running around in poop all afternoon pretending like he didn't just crap his pants.  I told him that no one would be mad and that that is what grown ups are for, to help people.  I also reminded him of the extra clothes that are at school just for this type of occurrence.  He then told me that they didn't have regular toilets, just urinals, which I know is not true but I think he is just really nervous to go poopy at school which I totally get because I HATE public bathrooms.  I'm actually really weird about bathrooms, I really only like to go potty at my own house, but that's another blog post!

I had to call my husband and tell him, mostly because I wanted his help once we got home.  When I told him what had happened he started laughing so hard I couldn't understand what he was saying and then it made me laugh so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks.  Thank goodness the kids are in the way back of the car and the music is too loud for them to hear anything else!  I won't go into too much more detail, as this topic is gross enough already, but let me just say, he did not have a "little" accident.  After further discussion he admitted that he didn't want to not be able to participate in centers and if kids go to the bathroom during rest time, they can't participate.  So he pretty much laid there and took a dump in his pants out fear of being eliminated from a fun activity, then proceeded to go about his day playing, having recess and sitting at his desk before finally admitting after dismissal that he pooped his pants.

Oh my precious four year old.  These are the stories I can't wait to tell him about when he has his own kids!  Good thing he is the constant optimist and puts a positive spin on any situation.  He was even laughing, jumping and playing while washing his poop off in the shower.  Just when I think I have the whole potty situation under control....Oh well, here's hoping he doesn't poop his pants again tomorrow!

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Busy Mommy Blogger

Go Packers!

We LOVE Packer Sunday in our house!  We make a bunch of different fun foods and wait all morning to eat our snacks with the game.  It is so much fun to plan and cook and it really gets the kids excited about the game too!  Unfortunately our beloved Packers lost today (boo!!) but the food was still good.

We spread a blanket out on the floor in the living room and the kids were able to dish up their Packer food and eat like a picnic.  We never eat in the living room so that made it even more special.  It was perfect because once the kids were done eating (don't worry, I still had them keep the box of wipes by them for their hands!) my husband folded up the blanket, crumbs and all, and threw it in the washer.

My daughter, who hates almost everything that isn't raw food loved all of our treats, at first anyway.  She loved the fruit pizza because it's pretty much a cookie with fruit on it and I was shocked she liked the spinach dip!  When she tried the pumpkin cookies she said, "Oooo, I love these, these cookies make me smile."  Too funny because after that first "smiley" bite, she decided she did not like pumpkin cookies.  Lol, story of my baby girl!  My four year old on the other hand, loved everything and I don't even think he actually tasted any of it because he inhales his food like a Hoover!

So much fun today!  Now hopefully the Packers will win next week!

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Busy Mommy Blogger

Family cuddle time

My two year old loves to lay in my bed after his bath when he is all ready for bed.  He climbs in, lays his head on my husband's pillow and cuddles up with his blanket.  I love that he does this because it means he's not running around tormenting his other siblings trying to get ready for bed.  It keeps him calm and quiet and, let's face it, it's super cute. 

It was so cute in fact that we decided it would be nice to cuddle with all the kids, even the baby!  The kids have a dream light that projects different colored shapes onto the ceiling.  It's pretty mesmerizing and even as a grown up, I would totally love falling asleep staring up at the ceiling like that.  So once the kids have taken baths, brushed teeth, and put on their pajamas, all six of us hop into my big bed and relax.

It is awesome!  It is the only time in the day that I can think of when everyone is mellow and QUIET!  We all just lay there and stare up at the ceiling, even my four year old is calm!  What better way to end a hectic day than to relax with my beautiful children!  I love family cuddle time!

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Busy Mommy Blogger

Huh? He's what?

I used to teach so I understand that kids can act differently at school than at home, but when I talked to my son's teacher after school today, my jaw dropped to the floor.  She told me he is VERY well behaved!  Excuse me?  Could you repeat that please?  He's what?  Oh, well behaved.  Like, he listens when given a direction?  Does he wait his turn to speak?  Is he kind to his classmates?  All of those things?  Wow!  Huh, that's a little crazy to me. 

I know my four year old is a good kid at heart.  He is very sweet and can be the most helpful of all my kiddos but USUALLY he's bothering someone, breaking something, or just plain wild.  In other words, he's a four year old boy!  He is by far my most challenging child right now and I am working tirelessly to figure out what motivates him.  I feel like most of our time is spent in the negative with him and find every opportunity to praise him, even if it's something as silly as him using his napkin instead of his shirt!

So when I went to pick him up after school today, I was shocked when the teacher told me that he is very well behaved, has great manners, participates well, and is working hard to learn new kindergarten skills.  In a class with ten other boys and only five girls, I thought for sure that he would be in a sea of temptation.  I was so proud of him!  I immediately began to praise him until he cut me short by running across the parking lot to jump into a huge puddle with his uniform and dress shoes on.  Really buddy?  Come on!  At least let me relish in the moment for a little while!

Ugghhh!  Well, at least he's great at school.  If I had to choose, I'd rather struggle with behavior at home.  And who knows, maybe he'll start bringing some of that good behavior home with him, at least that's what I'm going to start praying for!

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Busy Mommy Blogger