Bedtime Snacks

When I was growing up, I don't remember having bedtime snacks before bed. I know we had treats every once in a while, but it wasn't an every night thing. Well, my kids are constantly asking for a bedtime snack, and I guess I am struggling to know if they REALLY need it, or if it is just a habit we have fallen into.

We have our supper at 6pm - late, I know. Matt doesn't get home until then and I feel that it is important to wait and eat supper as a family. So the kids always get an afternoon snack around 4pm. After we are done eating and getting everything cleaned up it is practically time for bed. I guess it just might be me not wanting to make another mess in the kitchen I just tidied up, and sometimes I am just too tired to even think about something else to eat.

So here is the question: Do they really need a snack? And if so, what is a quick and relatively non-messy snack to have (and quick too - I don't have all night!!).

I guess the other side of the problem is that I am looking at the cost of food too. Most of my kids have very healthy appetites and I see a large portion of our monthly budget get eaten. I don't know if I have to change my attitude about food and be a little less anxious about letting my kids have their snacks, or if I can find a way to accommodate all of us.

I know I can make healthy snacks, and I have done cut up apples, cookies and yogurt. I guess I just have to be just a little bit less lazy (OK, a lot less lazy) and plan ahead a little bit.

So, take your vote - - to snack or not to snack......

Terrible Two's

Where do I even start with this one......

OK, I am starting to think that there might be a bit of a problem around our house concerning my two yr old daughter Sarah. I know that all my other kids went through their stages of "terrible twos", but I don't recall any of them being quite so destructive and crazy as Sarah is. I feel like I am always two steps behind her and I can't keep up! Sarah can get into more trouble quicker than you can blink an eye, and sometimes right in the same room with you!

Sarah loves to:

*dump out toy bins (as many as she can all at once)

*empty out cupboards (Tupperware , pie plates - you name it)

*throw things down the stairs (I'm talking big heavy things, not just little toys)

*escape outside as many times a day as she can (usually without any shoes on)

*open the oven door (luckily she hasn't done this when it has been on - yet...)

*"help" with the baking (like squishing rising buns and eating handfuls of dough)

*"wash" the dishes (or just make sure everything around her is covered in water)

*throw ALL the washcloths into the bathtub for her bath (that means about 20 of them)

*and eat paper - - LOTS and LOTS of PAPER!!

Being two is hard work and I think their brains are wired to make as much trouble as they can because they love to see the reactions of their parents. And unfortunately she gets a few reactions around here. I mean - come on!! REALLY!!!???!!! Most of these things I can attribute to being two, but I am having a problem with the paper eating. Sarah will eat anything that is paper - - ANYTHING!! Homework, newspaper, fliers, mail, coupons, toilet paper, Kleenex, video box covers, inserts from DVDs (her favorite ones now are from the library -- %$^#!). I just don't know what to do - if anything - about this. Is this just a phase, or does she have something wrong with her? Either way - I am ready for this phase to just move on out!

On the flip side - Sarah is one of the cutest, most lovable little girls ever! I love her curly blond hair, her smile that makes her eyes crinkle up, her infectious giggle and her never ending zest for life! She keeps me young and definitely makes life interesting! I really do love this beautiful little daughter of mine. As my Grandma Webster used to say: "Please give me the patience to endure my blessings!"

V-Day!

Today is a day to remember. Well, maybe for me to remember and for Matt to try and forget! After giving birth to six children, I know very well how the female brain conveniently forgets all the labor pains until it is time to go through it again, but by that time it is too late! Well, today it was Matt's turn to play his part in our family planning. As in, we are not planning on having anymore, so he had a vasectomy today!!! I am trying really hard to be sympathetic and giving him some extra TLC, but I can hardly keep the smile off my face. I know he is uncomfortable and in a bit of pain and I can totally sympathize with that, but I really do think that men are wimps when it comes to pain! So, I just smile and hand him another bag of frozen peas and some more Advil and try to be nice. Either way, I am glad it was him getting this procedure done and not me this time. I did my part..... six times!! I really do love him - - he is an awesome husband!!