All of my kiddos started school on 8/11.  So far everybody is doing great and they all have wonderful teachers.  We've already had all of our Meet the Teacher nights and today was the PTSO meeting for one of the 3 schools that my children attend. 

Things seem crazy busy now!  Is it almost Summer?!  Just kiddin'!

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

I had come across this story myself just a few days ago.  I have been keeping updated by reading http://blog.cjanerun.com/ ....

This is so sad.  The family seems to have an incredible support system.  My prayers go out to all of them.

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

I didn't have a nickname when I was a kid.  Nowadays, I hear someone shout "Mom!" and I always think my name is being called.  LOL!

 For my kids, we have tons and tons of terms of endearments for them...here are the most recent.  (The names have changed as they have gotten older)

Brea...Breesh

Braedon...Big B, Bubba, Zachary Beans

Bryce...Boot, Boo Tim, Scooby

Brenna...Bennella Jane, Tink, TinkerBelly

Riley Renee...Magilla Gnu, Ru, Magoo (She will pretty much come no matter what you call her, but she is a DOG!)

As for my other half...I refer to him as Honey.  :0)

Less is BEST!

We have a very large dog.  I have always put her away in our laundry room when guests come over.  I don't want anyone to get scared or to be uncomfortable.  I do think that kids eventually overcome their fears, I know I did.

Less is BEST!

Well this has happened to me before.  I had my eldest son, who was somewhere between 3 and 4 with me.  My eldest daughter was in school and my hubby was at home doing something.  I am not sure why I decided to take my son with me to the grocery store, I remember that he wanted to come, but I don't remember what possessed me to actually take him when my hubby was home to watch him...hmmm that was 10 years ago, so the brain cells have been dying...

Back to my story...I talked to my son before we got into the store and told him that we were going to get a few groceries and then we were going home.  I had  just walked in the store by the deli counter and he started pitching a fit.  For what, I don't remember, I gave him one warning, reminding him to be good or I was going to have to take him home.  He continued with the fit, so I calmly took his hand and we started back to the car.  By the way, the fit only got louder as he was screaming that he didn't want to go home.  Oh well, I got to go back and shop in peace. 

After this incident, you would think that I would have learned my lesson.  Nope!  It actually happened again.  I had a full cart of groceries.  I asked the clerk to put the cart in their fridge, I took the kids home, and then went back and purchased my groceries.

I now have learned my lesson.  My children DO NOT come grocery shopping with me unless it is an emergency.  As I see it, spouses are supposed to help parent (although back then my hubby called it babysitting!), so if the family wants to eat, we all have to work together to make Mom's shopping experience pleasant.

Less is BEST!

From Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ.  That was a long trip!  It took days!

Second longest...Phoenix, AZ to Santa Fe, New Mexico...we went for a wedding.  Our eldest daughter was just around a year and a half old at the time.  That was the longest 13 hour car ride with a child in tow.

Less is BEST!

Our homeowning experiences have been much different.  Wow!  You really do need a sense of humor for a week like that! LOL!

The first two homes we built had very few extras, and no landscaping in the front or back yard.  We also had no window coverings for quite a while.  We felt like we were living in a fishbowl.  We learned our lesson for our current home.  We got window coverings right away, our landscaping in the front was finished (the design came with the home), and we were much more prepared since we didn't have a fridge yet (used coolers until the delivery).

For every home that we have ever sold, I have always cleaned it to perfection.  I always had the carpets cleaned and touched up all the paint (including in the closets).  My Mom always taught me that I should leave the house the way I would want to move into it. 

Less is BEST!

I used to workout all the t...

Less is BEST!

Mouth watering!  A recipe everyone will enjoy.

Less is BEST!

Long, short, shoulder length....at this current moment my hair is frustrating me.  It was long, wouldn't do a thing, so I had a couple inches cut off.  Still wouldn't do a thing, had several more inches cut off.  Now it is shoulder length and still doesn't do anything.  I was about to get it cut short yesterday, but I couldn't find my stylist's number in time.

I have really curly hair.  Ringlets if I let it air dry.  My stylists, bless her heart, is constantly telling me to "embrace the curl".  I would love to have a style that allows me to leave my hair curly when I want, but that will still look great when straightend. 

Hubby's hair, on the other hand, looks great with a little length on top.  Why he insists on shaving his head (not bald, more military crew) is beyond me.  Maybe like myself, he gets tired of trying to make it do something.  I am so frustrated maybe I should shave my head? Nah, one Britney in this world is enough!

Less is BEST!

There aren't too many shows on TV that I actually take the time to watch.  If I had my way, we would unplug all of the television sets instead of just 9 of them. (Hubby and my eldest daughter can't live without their shows! LOL!)

I did see that The Mighty B had some new episodes airing this week.  I am not sure what it is that I enjoy about the show, but I am recording them so my kiddos and I can watch them.

Now, movies on the other hand, I could watch all day long.  I LOVE watching movies!

Less is BEST!

From my own experience,  moving when your kids are younger is much better.  They will adjust.

Our last move was the most difficult on our eldest daughter, until they changed the location of the school, since the school she was supposed to attend wasn't finished being built.  Overnight, she was totally fine.  She said it was because now she wouldn't be the "new girl", everybody would be "new" to the school and wouldn't know where anything was at.  It made perfect sense and her fears were gone.

When I was a kid (6th grade), we moved from Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ.  I remember being very scared and anxious.  That, along with the fact that school had already started here in AZ (it starts after Labor Day in IL) felt tramatic.  I was truly the "new kid" and made to feel that way.  

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!