I considered a DSLR camera, but I know it’s not for me. I don’t need to learn all those options, nor do I really want to. I do want to learn how to take amazing pictures of my kids. Anyone have any advice for indoor pics? This camera rated really high for good quality indoor pictures, but I can’t seem to figure it out! Any advice would be welcome!

Tonight we had terrible storms coming our way. They were said to be the worst storms we’ve had here since the 1920′s. I wanted to be prepared for the worst. We already have some food, laundry, toys and TV with an old school Nintendo 64 hooked up down stairs in the basement. So what else would we need?

Yes, I grabbed some water, snacks and the kids. You know…the things we can’t live without. But what did I grab? I grabbed our laptops, loaded them up in neoprene cases fully equipped with the chargers. In case of the unthinkable I want to have my pictures with me. All of them are on my laptop. I realize there is a chance that if the tornado had struck down here I would be grabbing my boys and not my laptop, but I wanted it close by for safe keeping. I had to grab Lou’s too. (We used to share, but that didn’t really work out) I put them in a backpack and rallied up the kids. I told them to grab their most precious belongings and put them in a backpack.

Camden and Cohen grabbed their Nintendo DS’s and as many WWE and Ben 10 toys they could fit in a bag. They were pleased with their picks. I sent the kids downstairs as the dark sky loomed overhead and grabbed my final essentials, my phone, iPod Touch and a bag full of lip gloss. If you didn’t already know, I’m an addict. I didn’t just grab one lip gloss. I grabbed at least 10 and stuffed them in a bag in the backpack. A girl has needs ya’ll!

We waited out the storm for about 2 hours. Nothing happened in my town far as the news reports. I’m happy and grateful. We kept entertained though. So there you have it, my basic needs are my boys and their toys, my laptop and lip gloss. Essentials.

Today has been emotionally exhausting. Cohen started in with his constant badgering within minutes of arriving at work. Thirty minutes in and I was so sick of hearing own voice! “Cohen stop”, “Cohen get off your brother”, “Cohen quit bugging him”, “Cohen stop kicking the wall/screaming/throwing toys”, the list goes on and on.

He begged me to get some stickers out of the car and I said no. That didn’t stop him. While I was busy with over kiddie he took the keys to get his stickers. In his haste to hurry back he wiped out in the parking lot. He kept his composure until he was back in the daycare then let it loose. Crying and squalling. After checking him out he had bloodied up his knees, wrists and elbows. Not long after that Cutler started screaming for ninny. We have never nursed at work and he knows that, but this night time weaning has really got him attached at the hip!

Once home Cohen was crying and crying that he couldn’t bend his knee, which he said meant he couldn’t walk or play, he also couldn’t write or eat since his wrists were tore up. I gave him some Ibuprofun, called the bus and school and cancelled, and let him rest on the couch. I tried to get Cutler down for a nap but no ninny to fall asleep on has messed him up in a terrible way! So play he does and sleep he doesn’t. While cleaning up the kitchen I hear the familiar sound of the Velcro on his diaper. By the time I get in there his diaper is in the floor with an unwelcomed surprise for me. Oh the fun of toddlers!

A few more sleepless hours later (and another diaperless butt/loaded diaper in the floor extravaganza) and he gets tired, finally. At the worst time though. He falls asleep just 30 minutes before we have to leave for kindergarten registration. I thought he may sleep on my lap, but no. Either way, it turned out ok. Cohen did excellent! Scored a 91!!! I’m so proud of him. That was the highlight if my day.

After getting back home I started on dinner. You know what I hear? The boys yelling “Mom! Cutler pooped again!” You guessed it! Another dirty diaper in the floor! Ugh! A mom can only take so much poop in the floor! Now I’m frustrated because I’m tired of cleaning up poop and I still have to cook dinner. I have no menu plan. I never do. I know that it would make life so much easier, but I never invest the time needed to pull it off.

I got dinner done, Cutler is clinging to my legs and Camden and Cohen at each others throats! Seriously, if I smoked, now would be the perfect time! Then to add to my frustration, the boys complained about every item on their plates and hubby was an hour late, thanks to the flooded roads.

Everything seemed good for a minute. Until it was time for Cutler to go to bed. He’s over tired and it shows. He’s kicking and screaming in the floor having a massive tantrum for his ninny. He ate dinner and I nurses him a few times today. I know that if I give it to him now he will fall asleep before I can brush his teeth, so the night time weaning continues. We’ve had a few good nights, but tonight doesn’t look to be one of those nights. He screamed for an hour before he crashed! I cuddled, kissed, rubbed his back and sang him songs. I could have got up and left him to do it on his own, but that just doesn’t feel right to me. So as hard as it is to put up with, I’m still so glad that even though he isn’t getting his night time ninny he still has his mama.

Weaning sucks. I wish it was easy for me. I’m exhausted. Tomorrow is Cutler’s appointment with another pediatric dentist for a consult. I hope we hear news that sits right. Pray that it goes well for us! I’ll keep ya posted!

I like to think that they model what they see, and they do…just not from me. I want to be that kind of mom that works out often enough that my kids realize that it’s a normal part of life. Sadly though I don’t. However, they model this behavior from their dad. Gotta love that! I think it’s hilarious that everytime we go to the park they do more working out then they do playing!

I am sick and tired of literally throwing money away! I went to buy some paper towels the other day and the large pack was $15.00! That’s crazy to me! So I’m done with it. Done with paper towels. We will be using napkins from now on. Well, actually they’re just towels, I need to buy some pretty napkins. Something orange…

Doesn’t it look nice? The first few days I kept reaching for it and it was quite irritating. Hubby was not happy with me, but he gets it. The other day he said we needed to buy some paper towels. He had $20.00 in his pocket. I said “Do you want to buy paper towels or take the kids to McDonald’s?”. McDonald’s won, obviously. When you put it like that he agreed with me.

Granted there are cheap paper towels we could be buying that aren’t $15.00 for the large pack, but why? Really? I can clean up a mess just as easily with a towel and wash it then I can with a paper towel. I’m not sure I’m really saving the environment, since the few extra towels may cause me a bit more water in the washing machine, or something like that, but I feel better knowing I’m contributing less waste.

Have you made any green changes lately?