Thing's My Boy's Will Learn To Do

So I know back in the "old day's" women were the care givers, the cook, the housekeeper & Men made the "Bacon"

Well it's 2013 and even in the 80's growing up my dad cooked! My dad will do laundry on occasion & he does dish's.

My boy's are going to learn to cook & bake & do laundry!

My husband will do laundry, my husband can clean, my husband cooks & bakes (and he's damn good at it) He makes some amazing food & he makes a better Cheesecake than me (yep I just said that) & I now will hear that for UM the rest of my life! But it's true & he deserves the credit!

I am so thankful to my mother in law & father in law for teaching him to cook & bake & clean & do laundry! He is a big help to me sometimes & I love and appreciate him for it! (seriously what woman would not want a man to cook for her?) I mean come on to be able to tend to other things & not have to worry what's for dinner & not have to just order a pizza. A nice home cooked meal made by my man is a way to my heart for sure :)

My hubby made me an amazing steak, lobster & grilled zucchini for Mother's day :)

                                         Yes it was as yummy as it looks! I have a keeper ;)


I LOVE to bake with my boy's! It's fun! They enjoy it & it's bonding for us & then we enjoy yummy treats after! Recently when my mother in law was here she let Aiden help make grilled cheese & he said mom let's me help bake but not cook! So I have started to let him help me cook & he truly enjoys it! Maybe he will be a chef someday if not hey he will know how to make meals when he moves out other than raman noodles & microwave hot dogs & one day he will be able to cook for his wife!

My boy's like to help with laundry they like to sprinkle the powder in & thrown in the clothes (this will help them greatly in their future especially in college).

Brycen loves the vacuum & Aiden the Swiffer! AWESOME! Clean away boy's mom is a clean freak so I will show you how!

I am their mother it is my job to teach them things & to take care of them. However it does not mean I am their maid or short order cook nor am I my husbands! He does work & he makes the money but I don't sit on my butt I bust my butt everyday to have things in order & take care of our boy's! I don't get a lunch break or time to go to the gym my job is 24/7 so when he wants to help me I gladly let him!

I think all men should know how to do these things. I married my husband to be my partner not be his mother! I never want my future daughter in laws to feel they have to mother my boy's. I want them to be thankful for me as I am for my mother in law for teaching them they too can cook, clean, bake, do laundry.

  I love watching Food Network & seeing all the men & how they cook! Quite honestly I think men are better cooks! I think my husband is more creative than me, my dad was a better cook than my mom & my father in law is an Awesome cook!! I much prefer to bake!

I'm just glad that my boy's have so much to look up too, that the men in their life show them that it is not "un manly" to cook or bake or do housework it's actually the opposite! That doing these things will make them  a well rounded man!
 -Candice-

Yesterday's Adventure

So yesterday I had to take all 3 boy's grocery shopping no big deal right? Well normally I went while the boy's were in preschool so I only had the baby!

Aiden likes to egg Brycen on & they end up running circles or fighting or something! I had to do a huge trip yesterday our cupboards were like bare it was sad!
  So I loaded up all 3 and off to Base we went. If you didn't already know my husband is a Marine so I have the luxury of shopping on Base at the commissary. It's great a lot of stuff is cheaper & the meat is better in my opinion than any other store. It's not the most convenient though because it is a 25 minute drive!

Now I had anticipated a funny, dramatic post for you all because I figured my boy's would be little maniacs but they didn't leave me with any material why you ask? They were Angel's! Seriously Aiden pushed a cart the whole time with Carsen in it & I pushed Brycen. No complaints no I have to go pee, no whining no fighting! (ok who are these kids?) I had to call my best friend on the way home & say "tell me why I have no story because my kids were amazing!"

I'm assuming that because I was focused talking to Brycen & he had my direct attention that is why he was being so good! Aiden had a very important job I told him. He was focused & helping to entertain baby brother Carsen! Carsen just loves Aiden & honestly he's the best behaved on any day.

So we did our hour maybe, more trip & home we went to unload & then ran to Target after now Brycen did have a bit of a meltdown there. But honestly it was my fault I should have known better than to drag him around all morning & he only had a 25 min nap in the car, it was not enough but he's the kid that if he falls asleep in the car well your screwed he will not go back down, but on a very rare occasion.

We decided to get takeout from one of our favorite restaurants for dinner & then after Carsen went to bed the hubs, Aiden, Brycen & I played as I call it "bumper body" we take pillows and hold them in front of us & bump into one another! The boy's were laughing hysterical & it was a lot of fun. Everyone went to bed easy tonight & happy :) So that was our day here are a couple pics!!


                                                   I run on Dunkin ;) before we entered the store

                                    My Big helper seriously the kid is pretty amazing

Ready to check out! Yes we were loaded down! Hey I did say my cupboards were bare ;)

Do you try to grocery shop alone? Or do you have a helper?
-Candice-

Nap Time DIY Craft

So I was bored today while the boy's were resting, we had went to the park this morning, so they were worn out!

I have been bored with my kitchen & wanted to add more color to it!! All my appliances are black & so is my knife block. Boring!!

So I thought hmm.. I will paint it! I already had primer & a aqua color that matches my mixer so I thought yep that's what I'm doing!

So outside I went with a brown paper bag, my knife block my primer & aqua spray paint.

                                                          Primed  & ready for color

                                                                  Looking Pretty

                                                                    So much better

Was such an easy project & didn't cost me anything because I had all the supplies!

What do you think?
-Candice-

 

Terrible Two's Please End!

If you have a 2 year old or an older child you know the dreaded Terrible two's! At once I felt alone that I was doing something wrong, but I've learned that the terrible 2's are called that for a reason! I've been there before am dealing with it again & in another year will again! Know your not alone in the struggle! If your children are older I'm sure you can relate & probably get a good laugh from this.

I found this on pinterest & it suits me:

Please excuse me if I scream or talk mad gibberish or if my hair is completely white next time I'm seen out, because I have completely lost my mind!

Seriously where did my sweet cuddly nice boy go? I now have a monster who kicks & screams & whines about EVERYTHING!!! I think an Alien invaded his body like for real!!!

At one point in my life (about 3 years ago) I thought I was a horrible mom because honestly I could not stand my child! He drove me absolutely nuts & no matter how hard I tried to do everything I could to make him happy & do what he liked. He was rotten! I LOVED him I would take a bullet for him, still do ANYTHING for him! But I honestly just wanted to run & hide in a closet! I would watch him as he slept & think he is such an angel & so peaceful! How can anything so sweet & cute looking be so terrible? I felt like I walked on egg shells don't wake the Beast! Don't make him mad!

Well as he got closer to 3 & got better  life became normal again!  We played without fits & meltdowns & could go anywhere with out a fit! The whining got better he didn't kick or scream! I was so glad that phase was over!

Then came baby number 2 sweet & snugly a sweet little boy, being a family of 4 was awesome I was so happy. Then came baby number 3 and even more love filled my heart  another sweet little boy.

Well then Brycen(second child) turned 2 and turned into an a MONSTER!! Now once again the terrible two's are overwhelming me & he is driving me crazy just like his older brother did.  Its like he lives to drive me insane!! Stubborn oh so stubborn! I want to run & hide again! Love him love him so much & he is so damn adorable, but literally makes me want to pull my hair out in chunks! He is rotten! He used to be so sweet & cuddly! Some days he still is my sweet boy & those days I cherish & will cuddle with him all day if he let's me! Some day's he will kiss his brother's boo boos & hug & love on them just because. Some day's he hits his brothers or throws toy's at them. How can someone so little have such fits? I feel he is way worse than his older brother ever was.  On his bad mood days  well I want to hide Literally!

So cute but oh so naughty!! (Don't mind his scratches! He plays hard, he is all Boy!)

Our conversation at dinner last night:

Me: Brycen please get your foot off the table, sit on your butt & eat your dinner
Brycen: No MOM MA you sit on you butt!
Me: Brycen sit down it is time to eat!
Brycen: No MOM MA (gets up from table starts running around the house laughing)

I literally want to bang my head against a wall some days! He really like to try my patience

Well I realized I'm not a bad mom & its ok to be frustrated, maybe even have a day where you love them but don't necessarily like them!
 I love my boy's everyday & would give my life for them. I would do anything for them but when they are 2 we are just not friends! I've talked with my mom & my mother in law about this & other mom's & they all say they have felt the same. They all still loved their kids & would do anything & everything for them but some day's you just can't stand them! It's normal!

It's hard to get along with a little monster that as many times as you tell them no they continue to go back to whatever it is you told them no to!

*It's hard to not want to rip your hair out when your trying to make breakfast & your son decides to go out the cat door & dump the litter box all over the garage Oh freaking fabulous!

*Or decides to run off while your trying to wipe the baby's face off from breakfast & he's splashing toilet water EVERYWHERE! (& yes I have child locks but sometimes big brother leaves the door open).

*Or even though he's been potty trained since 20months & is now 31months he thinks its appropriate to pee in the dog's water dish & laugh! (ya he is a pure joy some day's)

Trust me I do a lot with my kids play dates, crafts, play with them but some times I feel like it's useless because no matter what I do he does something to get under my skin and cause mayhem. Whether it be coloring on the floor, or snatching toy's from a sibling. He is always doing something to get a rise out of me! (he is so like his father it's not even funny)

On day's I can take him away alone he is amazing & I try as much as I can to give him alone time but it is hard with 2 other kids!

He's 2 I get it & it is his job to drive me insane. I realize he is trying to be independent so he wants to fight me on EVERYTHING, but I can not wait till he turns 3 because 2 is my LEAST favorite age! I do tell my self this over & over:

                                                                     (pinterest)

Some people are better with babies than other's. Some do better with toddlers. Some with older children! Me & 2 just do not mix! My husband even said that 2 & I don't mix my kids hit 2 and we are just not the best of friends! Any other age I can deal with no problem & I don't get so frustrated. 5 more months & I pray this will be over! Do I want to be my child's best friend no (well someday when they are grown) but I'd at least like to not want to bang my head against a wall once I hear them wake up because I know what is in store.

Speaking of best friends, my best friend sent me the funniest picture in a text the other day & I seriously could not agree more with it & she made me laugh because she knows & sees the struggle I have with my very stubborn 2 year old!

So I will share that with you all because some may feel just like me, some may not & that's fine.

                                                                    (pinterest)

Oh I feel that is so true & fitting for my 2 year old! & apparently whoever made that did as well!! I thank them for that because it surely made me laugh!  -Candice-

Sunny Day's Make For Funny Day's

So the weather has been pretty rainy & crappy here lately! Whenever it is nice and sunny out you will find my boy's outside playing!

They love the outdoors playing with trucks, digging in the dirt, bug catching. All boy they are! Well Friday was a nice day out so the boy's & I headed outside in our PJ's! (why not)

Brycen was smashing spiders with his crocks! He knows mommy does not like spiders so he makes sure to tell me when he's stomping on them for me! (it's sweet)

Aiden was running around like a madman racing through the yard he always has to show me how fast he is! I decided to make a obstacle course they had to run around the yard & then up the ladder of the little climber & down the slide all while I stood cheering & clapping & making up a silly song!

My crazy 2 year old is a nudist seriously the second he gets outside the clothes come off! I think he will be the next Naked Castaway! He is something!

Well they would play together & then do their own thing Carsen loved pushing the Tonka trucks around

 While Aiden & Brycen were running their obstacle I suddenly caught a glimpse of Carsen heading in a direction I didn't want him :/ see we have a 70lb Boxer and she poops on the far side of our fence! Even though we pick up her stuff daily her morning dodo had not been! (See where I'm going with this?)
Yep truck & Carsen's foot all through the Poo.

Aiden & Brycen thought this was hilarious & were saying stinky foot & poopy foot & all other silly names! Me I was like ahhhh he's got crap on him EWWWW!  Our dog is a total inside dog only goes out to potty or if were all out to play so she's clean but still it's Poo. NASTY!! Well I hosed him off let everyone play a little longer & to the shower they all went!

Poo foot & all we had a blast & was so glad we got out when we did because of course later it was raining & it's been ever since! Blah! Hoping the sun comes back out soon mommy can only make forts & play dough's & other crafts that entertain for so long! My boy's definitely need their outdoor fix they are much better behaved on day's they can get fresh air & run! You can find DIY play dough here:
http://mylittlecircusandme.blogspot.com/2013/06/playdough-pssh-try-awesome-dough.html

What do you do on rainy day's? -Candice-

Essential Oils My New BFF

So for awhile now I have been on an Essential Oil kick! I HATE medicine! I don't like taking it for aches & pains.

So I've gone with more Natural products! I've even turned some friends on to them! About a year ago I made my husband his own chap stick using bee's wax, essential oil & coconut oil! It's time to make some again so look for that blog post soon!

Well with my essential oils I started using my peppermint oil for my headaches! I get Migraines & quite often sometimes & if you have ever had one well you know they are awful! So I use a drop of peppermint oil on each temple my jaw line & back of my neck. Some days it goes right away other day's I need to add a drop to the bottom of each foot & I sometimes add a drop of Lavender Oil! It's been working amazing!

I use the peppermint oil on my oldest when he has a headache & I even rub it on my abdomen during that time of the month to help with cramps!

My husband had a bad stomach ache one day so I dipped a tooth pick in the peppermint oil swirled it in a glass of water he drank it & felt better 10 minutes later!

Well knowing the oils help with that I started looking into using them for other uses. I now clean with my essential oils! I use a vinegar(natural disinfectant)/water mixture & add Tea Tree oil (it has antibacterial properties) I also add lemon grass oil it also has antibacterial properties & it smells so good.

I use baking soda in my toilet bowls spray with vinegar let it foam up add a drop or 2 of Essential Oil & scrub it leaves my toilet clean & smelling good!!

Safer for my kids & my wallet :)

*Tea Tree oil can help acne I use a Qtip  dab it on trouble spots it really helps!

*Tea Tree oil can be used as lice prevention put a few drops in your kids shampoo

*Tea Tree Oil helps keep fleas away put drops on your pets bed or in their crate

*Helps remove skin tags

*Treats Ringworm

Tee Tree oil does so much more!!

Here is an awesome little kit I bought off Amazon and it has 6 oils in it:
Tee Tree
Lemon Grass
Sweet Orange
Peppermint
Eucalyptus
Lavender

These are KIS Oils & they are 100% therapeutic grade!

Soon I'll post my DIY toothpaste made with Essential Oils & My DIY chap stick as well stay tuned
-Candice-

Chalkboard Paint Label's

So 2 of my boy's share a room & I am always looking for ways to keep their room organized. I'm kind of OCD on that my Best friend would agree!

So I re-did their closet & organized with a bunch of bins from the dollar store! (yep dollar store) got to be savvy with 3 kiddo's!!

Well then I thought if I could somehow label the bins it would make clean up way easier!! I could also use as a teaching method for my oldest for reading what toy's go where!

So I started thinking I could get sticky labels but as their tastes change & toy's change the label would have to & sticky label's just leave a mess, so that was a no go!

Then I thought hmm.. Chalkboard you can wipe it off & change the words! So then I had to think of how I wanted to make them. I thought little wooden signs would be cute.

So off to Michale's I went to get ideas. I found chalkboard spray paint. & these thin pieces of wood that I could cut down & some jute rope!

 

Then back to my thinking process If I cut them into little squares & drilled holes I could tie & hang them with the jute rope & then as toy's change the words can change! (I seriously love chalkboard paint whoever invented it is so awesome!!)

My husband actually cut all the wood for me using a simple hand saw & then he drilled the holes for me & off to spray painting I went it took a few coats but the end result I was very pleased with!!

Once they were dry I pulled the jute through & tied them to every basket in the boy's closet & then labeled them!! Since I put shorts & pants in some of the bins it made it much easier to find who's clothes I was looking for!

The labels are cute & not tacky so it's an added bonus. I actually got complimented  by a realtor on them & my organizing skills! Made me feel good!

So here is the finished product:

The plastic colored bins are from the Dollar Store & the black cloth ones were clearance at Walmart!!

Pretty happy with the new organization!! Now I just need to get smaller chalk the big sidewalk chalk is kind of hard to write with!

Have you made your own label's before? How do you organize?
-Candice-