“While we try to teach our children all about life,

our children teach us what life is all about.”

Learning To Be A Mother

Learning To Be A Mother

-by Julia M. DeLeeuw

Oh how the young lady boast of the Mother She'll be.

Planning and contemplating

From the moment she realizes that one day her dollies

Can be replaced

By rosy cheeked Cherubs of her own.

Oh the planning.

What she will be...

What she wont do...

And how she definitely wont be her own Mother.

So confident in a sea of options and choices.

So confident she already know whats best.

Fast Forward

To the woman in the throws of Motherhood.

How the quiet nights whisper the disappointments of the day.

The "should-have-dones".

"Where is the Mother I was suppose to be?"

The Glamour is chipped away by the everyday.

The Antics get old and the Laundry never stays done.

The mundane stars to creep in.

But just when you think you have been spent...

There walks in your creature.

With arms stretched out and big wide eyes they make your world light up.

And suddenly you think to yourself...

"Oh what a wonderful day".

Free Placemat printable

Your kids are going to love this FREE Place Mat Printable

and you are going to love it more when your kids are to occupied "drawing their dinner" to be up to their usual antics.

Just click on the image and click on your printer icon to print this fun Place mat.

I found this at http://www.familyfun.com.

To find more of these cute printables and ideas just go to this website

Free Custom Chore Charts

Just thought I should share with all you parents out there this neat websites I found for

FREE customisable charts for your kids.

They have tons of free printable charts for just about anything you need.

Homework, Behavior, Chores, and so much more. Very cool. The sign up is also free.

Just go to

http://www.handipoints.com/

Mystery Walk

Mystery Walk-

• Go on a walk with your family in which you are the only one who knows the destination.
• After you reach your destination have something special waiting to give out or do like a treat, game, or small prize.

The Rules of a Toddler!

The Rules of a Toddler!

If it is on, I must turn it off. If it is off, I must turn it on.

If it is folded, I must unfold it.

If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.

If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.

If it is high, it must be reached.

If it is shelved, it must be removed.

If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.

If it has leaves, they must be picked.

If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.

If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.

If it is closed, it must be opened.If it does not open, it must be screamed at.

If it has drawers, they must be rifled.

If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.

If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.

If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.

If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead.

If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.

If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.

If it is paper, it must be torn.

If it has buttons, they must be pressed.

If the volume is low, it must go high.

If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.

If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.

If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.

If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.

If it is a phone, I must talk to it.

If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.

If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.

If it is not food, it must be tasted.If it IS food, it must not be tasted.

If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.

If it is a car seat, it must be protested with arched back.

If it is Mommy, it must be hugged.

Spring Word Search Printable

I hope you and your kids enjoy this sweet little word search.

Its fun for the whole family.

You can work on it individually or as a family.

To print it just click on the image and then click on your print icon .

April's Date Night Idea

Stargazing

This months date night idea is rather simple and one that I haven't tried out yet but have been thinking about. To me stargazing would be more than hanging out on the patio and watching the nightime sky, although that would be fun to I am sure. For me the date would go something like this...

First, get a sitter. Second, put together a little kit that includes a blanket or two, some form of mellow romantic music (whatever your loved one's preference is), and something to snack on (maybe strawberries and ginger ale). Third, drive out to your favorite camping spot, lake, hiking trail, park, or etc. Find a nice secluded place and throw a blanket on the ground, truck bed, grass, hood, or whatever else you can think of. Fourth, break out the music and food, climb under the other blanket, and truly just enjoy being together.

Take the time to watch the stars and talk about each other. Try to avoids subjects like the kids or work. After all, you aren't there to vent to each other you're there to share some quality time together. Kick back and enjoy each others company!

- Brandon

Song Scramble

• Copy the lines of several songs,(depending on how many people are playing) on seperate peices of paper (one line on each piece)
• Then let each person draw one out of a bowl.
• All players sing thier lines at the same time and try to find and try to find the people who have thier other lines.
• The first group to get all thier lines together sings the song and wins.

Oreo Cookie cheese cake (no bake)

This is one of my families favorite deserts, and I am excited to share it with you all, I am sure your family will just love it.

What You Need!
1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Cookies, divided
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each)Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed


To Make It-
COARSELY chop 13 of the cookies; set aside.
Coarsely chop 2 cookies; and set aside.
Finely crush remaining cookies; mix with butter. Press firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
Gently stir in whipped topping and chopped cookies. Spoon over crust;
Than sprinkle top with the remaining 2 chopped cookies
Cover.
REFRIGERATE 2-4 hours or until firm.

To Do List Printable

To Do List Download

I just love this. You can use this as a gift to someone or just print it out for your self. This download come with two sizes for you to print out. 8.5x 11 and a 11x 8.5, perfect for any printer. to download click on the link above. Please let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

Wow the Kids

Fun Facts to wow the kids

These are Great for-

-Conversation Starters, impressing your kids and their friends, having a laugh, breaking the silence, looking knowledgeable, or just for fun.

You can start out by saying " do you know what I found out today?"...

-Sharks teeth are usually replaced every eight days

-Cats noses are like finger prints, each one is unique

-You have no muscles in your fingers

-Butterflies taste with their feet

- Colgate (as in the toothpaste) translates in Spanish as "go hang yourself"

Easter Coloring Page Freebie

Coloring Page Download

This is a cute coloring page for the kids. I designed it myself and my kids just love it.

To print it just click on the image and click on your icon to print it out. Or you can download it by clicking on the image above.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

THE EVOLUTION OF A MOM

Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first.

Your Clothes
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
The Baby's Name
1st baby: You pore over baby name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.
3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.
Preparing for the Birth
1st baby:You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.
The Layette
1st baby: You perish your newborn's clothes, color coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Activities
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Going Out
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
At Home
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Lovely and Lace Digi Scrap Download

Lovely and Lace Part 2

This is the element pack, you can get the paper just below this post.

You can also download a free desktop background made from this kit just a few post down.

I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment,

and I would just love if you shared your scrap pages by posting a pic of them in the comment box.

Lovely and Lace Digi Scrap Kit

Lovely and Lace Part 1

This is a vintage kit with a touch of shabby.

Download this free paper pack on the link above, the element kit will be posting tomorrow, both will be available for free download throughout the month of April.

Be sure to get your free desktop background made from this kit just posted below.

Please leave a comment.

I would also love to see what you do with the kit. I would be great if you posted a pic of the scrap pages you make with this kit.