Jedi Potty Trick

Yet again my DSL isn't working properly. I'll click on a site and it will work for a few minutes and then suddenly there is nothing and I'll have to sit and wait for it to come back up again. When the technician came last week he told me with the increase of people in the area that the line was too small and they'd expanded it. Apparently not enough as this problem has only gotten worse over time. Jimbo and I are seriously contemplating the switch over to satellite internet. Sure it might go out with bad weather but right now the dsl goes out with the sun shining outside.

But enough of that. I want to share my youngest child's latest tactic to get himself more snacks. He's a sneaky little bugger, I'll give him that.

He's started indicating he wants to "potty Momma" and each time I rush him up the stairs. I noticed when we got to the bathroom he would pull down his pants, literally sit on the toilet for less than a second and then inform me, "done Momma!" I would praise him for trying and some of those times he'd sneak into the kitchen for a snack. Well...

The last couple of weeks he's done this same thing, only after each trip he runs into the kitchen to pick out food. He usually asks to potty minutes after he's requested food in the playroom and has been told no. It's become a vicious cycle with me taking him upstairs to "fake" going to the bathroom to try and trick me into feeding him.

I don't know what to do. One part of me knows I need to encourage using the toilet but another is tired of treading the stairs so he can attempt to pull one over on me. I guess one positive aspect of all of this is I'm getting my daily exercise...and then some.

Bottomless Pits

All day long I hear it. Sure it changes from time to time but the basic structure of the request remains solid.

"I want *insert food here* Mommy!"

I hear this minutes after breakfast, all through out the morning, and into the afternoon. I hear it after they've just finished one thing and have decided they still want more. In fact, this week alone they have eaten (just as snacks now):

3 bags of chips (Cheeto's, Doritos, and Chex mix)
14 cups of yogurt
2 boxes of little debbie cakes
1 carton of ice cream
2 boxes of cereal
3 cans of Mandrian Oranges
8 Bananas
2 gallons of milk

I've never been one to deny anyone food, especially children. But this is becoming crazy. A part of me thinks that since they do eat it (usually) that it's not wasteful and obviously they are hungry but another part of me knows this type of weekly gorging will eat our budget like nothing else. This doesn't even include things they want for drink all day.

Yesterday I did a structured time for snacks. I gave one 2 hours after breakfast and another after lunch (after they woke from naptime). This was hard however because Logan and Vincent cried, screamed and begged for more snacks. The only upside being they actually ate the dinner I cooked, especially Logan who turns his nose up at everything but yogurt, chips and oranges.

Maybe I'll keep trying to do the structured thing. I have planned to bake at least x2 per week this summer with the kids (it's a good structured learning activity and they enjoy it) so that should save a bit of money as far as snacks are concerned. I just hope after a few days the boys quit running to me constantly asking over and over again for different foods. I feel like snack machine.

Summer scoreboard for the day, I think I'm on top. I'm meeting Jimbo this afternoon to take the kids to Pizza Hut to use their reading completion coupons. So unless something goes incredibly wrong between now and then, I'm awarding today's point to me.

Kids=2
Mom=2

So Far...

I've made...

2 bowls of cereal.

2 bowls of popcorn.

4 sets of carrots with ranch dip.

6 refills of Kool-Aid.

and it's only 10:00am. And that's only with Logan and Vincent home. Tomorrow Arwen begins her summer vacation.

Weight Loss Secret

You all want to know how I manage to keep the weight off? In fact, I'm slimmer now than my senior year in high school and it's all thanks to my children.

Each time I prepare anything to eat for myself, be it veggies and dip, reheats, breakfast, lunch or dinner, my children always want some.

Today I chopped up some cauliflower and made a side of dip. It was 3:00 and I hadn't eaten all day long. I sit in my chair and take a bite, my mouth sighs in delight when I hear my oldest child walk into the room. Even though she just finished off a two scoop bowl of ice cream, I know two things immediately. One, she knows I have food and two, she will come up to me acting like she wishes to chat in an effort to get my food.

"Hey Mommy, I love you."

"I love you too," I say and eat another piece.

"Oh you have cauliflower, can I try some?" She reaches over and grabs a chunk. I don't say anything because I know what's going to happen and sure enough, she begins to quickly eat down my food. By the time she is done she's eaten over 3/4 of it all and I'm left hungry and the cauliflower is all gone.

I haven't had an uninterrupted meal or snack with the exception of the nights they are at Mimi's in years. So there is my diet secret. My children are slowly starving to me to death.

Southern Cooking

Breaded and pan fried Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
Mac n' Cheese
Fried Okra

If that isn't a southern dinner, I don't know what is. This got me to thinking, what kind of meals do you prepare in your home? I challenge you to take a picture and share what kind of meals you and your family enjoy around the dinner table.

P.S. All of the things on my table, down to the gravy, are homemade (with the exception of the Mac and Cheese, which is Logan's favorite).

Impossibly Good

These chips are just as they claim, "Impossibly Good". I'm in love with the Apple Cinnamon Grove and Wild Berry Patch. I love these so much that they are my own "secret treat" I keep stashed in the office for my own snacking. I cannot stop eating them. They are a most tasty addiction!

You can download a free dollar off coupon by googling Impossibly Good. Give them a try, I'm sure you'll love them!