Marshmallow Peep Smores

Last Easter my dad purchased a few-too-many boxes of marshmallow Peeps for the kids.  Four months later we still haven't finished them.  So we decided to use them to make Smores. 

Matthew wanted blue and I took pink. 

First put the Peeps in the microwave for a few seconds, until they start to rise. 

Then split a graham cracker in half and cover one side with chocolate (we use Nutella).  Then put the Peep on top of one graham cracker and close it down with the other. 

Viola!  Peep Smores.  Yummy!

Whew! Temps are rising!

 

It's a brutal 90 degrees out there today.  The kids spent part of the morning soaking in the pool while I worked on my tan.  Now we're enjoying some time indoors with a movie and air conditioning.  

Stay cool everyone! 

Staying Home With Kids Or Not

I was browsing through a parenting magazine that I receive every month and came across a very interesting article about working moms vs. stay-at-home moms.  It was talking about the difference between the two; the benefits and the disadvantages.  The guilt that both sides face.  They also discussed the term "mommy wars" which is something that has been going on for many years.  I don't understand it.  Whether or not we choose to stay at home or go to work after having children is a decision we make that is best for our family.  Just as deciding to formula feed or breastfeed is our decision that needs no criticizing.  Most mothers work because they need the money for bills or they need the insurance.  That's very understandable.  Some mothers choose to work so they can use that money towards family vacations or their children's college education.  I can understand that one too.  I mean, the cost of living is insane and the cost of college tuition is crazy.  I admire all working mothers no matter what the decision may be ... except one. 

Yes, I'm going to write about this. 

In the article were a list of reasons why women choose to work or stay home.  One answer from a working mom seemed to confuse me and it's an excuse I've heard a few of my mommy friends make. 

I couldn't be a stay-at-home mother because being at home all day with the kids would drive me crazy. 

I don't even know what to say on that.  If your only reason for going to work is to get away from your kids then I have to ask why did you even have kids to begin with? 

My decision to be a stay-at-home mom was simply because the cost of daycare was more than we wanted to pay.  I mean, if I would have gone back to my job most of the paycheck would have gone to childcare and it didn't seem worth it to either me or my husband.  Also, we both believed that my time would be better spent at home with the kids until they both went to school.  I can't say being at home with them all day/every day is easy.  There are moments when I feel I'm about to lose my patience.  A good example is this morning when I couldn't get my twenty-three month old to settle down from one temper tantrum after another.  She's almost two and is at the age where she's testing her limits and not understanding why she can't have her way.  My son never acted up like this so handling this behavior is something I'm new at and learning how to deal with.  Being at home is very monotonous.  It isn't often I get a break and yes I do feel it's important for every mother to have me time.  But to say out loud that you would go crazy if you were home with them all day?  I just don't get it.  It sounds cruel to me.  Trust me, I know all about "going crazy" from time to time.  It's not easy; however, I would never choose to put work or anything else before my kids simply because I couldn't stand to be around them. 

I don't mean to push anyone's buttons here.  I know this is a sensitive topic for most mothers.  These "mommy wars" are ridiculous.  Deciding to be at home or to go to work doesn't make you better.  You do what works for you and your family.  I have a mix of working moms and stay-at-home friends and family that I admire very much.  It's the whole "I have to work because my kids would drive me insane" attitude that rubs me the wrong way. 

Enjoy every moment you have with your children whether it be all day or just a few hours a day because they grow up too quickly.  It's completely worth it. 

Shopping Success

Clothes shopping is something I do not enjoy, especially for myself.  Since I've been losing weight I didn't have a pair of shorts that fit.  I searched so many places and couldn't find anything.  What is with the style these days?  It's hard to find a pair of shorts and pants that don't look like they've been bleached or have holes and rips in them.  Finally, last week I went to KMart and found two pairs that I like ... and are a size smaller than I ever thought I could be.  Score! 

Today I went to a kid's consignment shop on the other side of town.  They are having a $1 clothing sale today and tomorrow so I decided to stop in and see what they had available.  I was expecting a large crowd and only a limited amount of clothes available but it wasn't so bad.  I managed to get four shirts for Matthew.  Nothing for Brianna.

I love striped shirts on boys.  It makes them look so grown up. 

The kids and I also went to Walmart because I've been desperately looking for a pair of sandals for Brianna.  She has one pair and the Velcro broke.  They also seem to be too dressy to wear anywhere.  I wanted her to have a pair she could wear when we go to the water park, public pool near my parents' house and the beach.  I searched in many stores in the last several weeks but couldn't find anything in her size.  Finally, today I found something at Walmart.  Not exactly what I was looking for but this will do.

When it comes to clothes for the kids we've been very fortunate to have family and friends who have been passing their childrens' clothes down to mine.  My son gets most of his clothes from my nephew.  Brianna got most of her clothes from a neighbor and also my cousin's daughter.  We've been quite lucky in that aspect.  Kids grow fast and don't stay a certain size for long. 

Hagerstown, Maryland

Yesterday Rob and I took the kids on an out of state trip to Maryland.  We make a trip to Hagerstown every 6 months so my engagement ring can be cleaned and inspected in order to keep the warranty.  My husband, who worked in Hagerstown at the time, bought my engagement ring at a jewelry store there.  Well, there is no other jewelry store located near us so we have to make the trip twice a year.  It takes a little over an hour to get there and we don't mind going at all.  It's a beautiful town with a lot to do. 

So we went to the jewelry store to drop my ring off and then let the kids play in the play area inside the mall for awhile.  Then we headed to a park nearby.  It's a park we had been to before we were married and have always planned to go back.  It's called City Park and located in downtown Hagerstown.  The park is huge and we enjoyed a hike around the lake watching the ducks and spotting the fish swimming around.  There are three playgrounds but the kids only played at two of them.  We didn't have a chance to visit the train and art museums but I'm not sure the kids would have enjoyed them anyway.  I give this park two thumbs up. 

It was a nice day and I love any chance we get to spend as a family.  My husband works forty hours a week Monday through Friday and by the time he gets home it seems like we're too busy getting things done around the house so the chance we get to go out and have family time is enjoyable. 

4th Of July Fun

Happy Independence Day (1 day late).  I hope it was good for you!  I can't put it into words just how grateful I am to be an American and being part of this great nation.  Freedom wasn't handed to us.  It was fought for.  I can't say I'm happy with the direction our country is going lately but I'm still grateful (and I'll leave it at that). 

We stayed at home most of the day and had my parents over for a barbecue.  Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, kielbasa, baked beans and I made potato salad the same way my mother always made it (sorry not sharing that recipe).  I also made some desserts. 

I made Matthew a red, white and blue drink I saw on Pinterest.  It didn't come out as perfect as it should have but Matthew liked it.  First you add ice, then cranberry juice or fruit punch (I chose cranberry), then blue Gatorade.  The recipe also says to add Sprite last but he doesn't like carbonated drinks so I left that out.  

I made cupcakes but I regret this.  24 cupcakes for 6 people?  There is so much left but I guess it will be nice for Rob and the kids to enjoy.  Anyone want a cupcake?

This is a dessert I found on Brianna's High Five magazine.  So yummy!  First you crush some strawberries with a fork and put them on the bottom.  Then add vanilla yogurt.  Then blueberries and a little more yogurt.  Then top it off with crushed sugar cookies.  Matthew said he wants me to make this again. 

Of course, The 4th of July isn't complete without watching fireworks.  We sat outside of a nearby church so we could see the ones that were shooting off from the city.  I am not an expert on how to take firework photos so this was the best I could get. 

Then back home to play with sparklers before going to bed. 

First (Temporary) Tattoo

My little 22-month old wanted to be like her big brother, who always insists on having a temporary tattoo on him.  This is her first one.  She loves her little giraffe.