Friday, June 29, 2012

Things Toddlers Say

This is a series of posts of funny things my kids have said reposted from my other now private blog. I just think they are so cute I couldn't help myself but to post them all over again! Check back every Friday for more Things Toddlers Say!


This morning MageeBoy said, "The dragonflies are sad." while telling us a story. So I asked why? "Because they miss their mommies." :)

Later he was telling us a story and said that spiders eat fish. Who knew?! LOL

Monday, June 25, 2012

Mommy Tips Monday

Great mommy tip coming from my very own mommy. Not only does she have a degree in chemistry but a PhD in Motherhood! LOL She's been a mom to me and my 2 sisters for 38+ years.


Today's tip from my very own mommy is to Set Your Alarm for Teenagers Curfews. Yep, little did I know when I first got to stay out late that they were never really up worrying about if I would make curfew. My parents had ingeniously set their alarm clock for my curfew and enjoyed a good nights sleep. So if I missed curfew, the alarm would wake them up and they would be waiting for me. It worked pretty good until I would sneak in just before curfew, turn off the alarm clock and sneak back out! LOL I really don't remember doing this. Ahhh selective memory. I guess these days with passwords on phones you could use your cell phone to set the alarm and not have to worry about a wayward teenagers turning it off. :)


Do you have a Mommy Tips Monday post you’d like to submit and promote your blog? Please email me at MageeMommy at gmail dot com.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Things Toddlers Say

This is a series of posts of funny things my kids have said reposted from my other now private blog. I just think they are so cute I couldn't help myself but to post them all over again! Check back every Friday for more Things Toddlers Say!


Spiders eat cheese. Who knew?! LOL

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

Mommy Tips Monday

Great mommy tip coming from my very own mommy - Dixie. Not only does she have a degree in chemistry but a PhD in Motherhood! LOL She's been a mom to me and my 2 sisters for 38+ years.


So Dixie's Mommy Tip for today is having a secret signal with your kids. Ours was to tug on our ears. It could be pretty much anything like scratching your head, talking about the weather, etc. So if someone asked us to spend the night but we didn't want to hurt their feelings, we would tug on our ears and our parents would get us out of the deal. That's just one example. I don't remember what other things they would get us out of. It was mainly just used when we felt uncomfortable with a situation or didn't feel like we could verbalize our feelings at that moment.


Do you have a Mommy Tips Monday post you’d like to submit and promote your blog? Please email me at MageeMommy at gmail dot com.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Smelly...

I just knew that there was a putred milk sippy in the car but haven't been able to find it since last week. It was really getting ripe but I looked under seats, between seats, got an air freshner can, left windows down to air it out. Still I couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from... luckily my husband who is as much a neat freak in contrast to me being a messy(yep, I'm the messy one in this outfit). My husband found the culprit tonight... a disgusting weeks old sippy filled with old curtled milk and reeking. It was stuck behind the last row of seating and tote with emergency gear. I remember looking there but it must have been wedged in pretty good.

Let's just say eew. And I'm so glad my husband found it... not me! haha He cleaned out the suburban completely and sprayed lisol all over the place. whew! It. was. gross!

Have you ever had the problem of not being able to find the cause of smell for days or weeks???? I'll never buy a brand new vehicles while any of my children are in toddler stage!!!!!!!!!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Things Toddler Says

This is a series of posts of funny things my kids have said reposted from my other now private blog. I just think they are so cute I couldn't help myself but to post them all over again! Check back every Friday for more Things Toddlers Say!

"Snakes eat watermelon."

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Professional

Last weekend, our family had a family photo shoot... in the backyard. There's a reason why people are paid good money to do this. I thought we could save time and sanity by setting the timer on the ol' camera and doing this ourselves from our own home. ahahaha! Now looking back it makes sense why people would pile three children (almost)4 yrs old and younger into a vehicle, drive somewhere, change their clothes(because otherwise they would be sure to be stained in route to the studio), pile into the studio, and try to fight away tears or little ones running around in circles long enough to get just one perfect photo. Turns out that is much more sane than setting a timer on a camera and running to the group to get a photo while scooping up a child in route and trying to pose just the right way just as the flash goes off. Also I'm guessing kids are less likely to run up to the camera and fling it around at a photo studio than in your own backyard.

Yep, they were running around, like kids are suppose to do in backyards, acting like they are kids and having fun while I was trying to herd everyone to one spot and my patient husband took in the craziness from his posed position with the little baby and our dog. There really wasn't any pictures that turned out with everyone smiling and looking at the camera. I think I'm going to photoshop my little baby where it appears that he has his head turned to the camera instead of his sister who was screaming and crying at just the instant the camera flashed for almost EVERY. SINGLE. PHOTO. She would be just fine and then just as the camera would go beep beep beep; she would freak out! SIGHHHH!

So what's the point of this cranky post? If you think you are saving your sanity by taking do-it-yourself group photos of your family, you aren't!!! Go seek professional help; and then find a good photographer. hahaha

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Monday, June 11, 2012

Mommy Tips Monday

Thank you so much to the TheSmellyArmpit guest contributor today - the author Cherie Bright from Another Day, Another Story. Would you like to submit a Mommy Tips Monday post and promote your site? Please email me at MageeMommy at gmail dot com. Here's more information about Cherie: Cherie Bright is a stay-at-home mom, who refers to career as a holly homemaker/ mommy extraordinaire. She is the author of the blog and the book titled “Another Day, Another Story.” She is a graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Computer Science and Communications, both of which she uses daily trying to outwit her children. Bright moved to The Woodlands, Texas in 2004 from El Dorado, Arkansas. She is the mother of two children and wife to one understanding husband. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, camping, and sitting around the campfire exchanging stories. “Another Day, Another Story,” is available at bookstores nationwide or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. A download version is available direct from the publisher at lulu.com.

Helpful Hint #682- Restaurant Woes Be Gone

You have survived. You know what I’m talking about, one of those horrid nights out with the children to a local restaurant and you and your husband have made a verbal commitment never to leave the house during a meal time ever again. The wiggles and loud voices came over the children and then just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse the whining and which promptly turns to the sobbing of you and your child.

Well, the truth is we have all been there. And sometimes it is just unavoidable. Everyone is tired and just ready to go home. But, it doesn’t have to be like that every trip to the restaurant. The key is being like a boy scout…prepared.

First, carry a package of boring crackers in your purse. This is especially important with younger children. When you go to a restaurant, everyone is hungry, sometimes starving. All the good smells start perking up the children’s senses. They know that tummy is growling. They want something to eat…now. Well, you don’t want your child to ruin his dinner, yet you want to keep the peace in the restaurant. If you have some crackers that they just sort of like, it will settle the tummy rumbles and yet they won’t want to fill up on it. I don’t know how many times the food arrives for the adults before the children. Or for toddlers, everyone has a meal and the parents opt to wait to feed them at home. If I was that toddler, I would find it very unfair and verbalize my disapproval. Or the worst ever, the food is not what was ordered for the child and they have to wait twice as long. Oh, how much adult conversation time was saved all due to a cracker stuffed mouth. I love the makers of Saltines for my older children and Cheerios for my toddler friends!

Second, “divide and conquer” as the old saying goes. When my two children sit side by side, I am inviting them to play and poke all through the meal. Many times, that is just fine. They want to enjoy the evening, as do I. So, when we are at Chick-fil-A or McDonald’s or whatever child friendly establishment, poke away my children. Yet, say we go to a place with a tablecloth you can be rest assured that my husband will be sitting by my daughter and I will be sitting by my son. Or vice versa, depending on which child is more “busy” is depending whom I choose to sit by that eve.

Third, a distraction is always good. When my children were toddlers, I always kept in my car a little bag of toys that they never saw, except in the restaurant. When selecting your one or two toys, my only suggestion is not to pick a ball as that encourages little Billy to throw it at others or anything with a wheel as little Sally will surely try to have it jump the canyon to the next table. I like magna doodles. And as they get older nothing beats a pen and a notebook. Perfect for drawing or playing games like tic-tac-toe. A good tiny stuffed animal works well, as does things like silly putty (not playdough, this leaves a color mark).

And let’s say you forget all this, and are at the restaurant without any diversions. I’ve been known to have my kids count the sugar packets, play games like who can guess what and win a packet, and when they were really starving just let them eat the sugar. If the service is too slow, then I figure it’s their own fault that I had to let my kids eat the sugar and we should all just suffer together.

Cherie Bright is a stay-at-home mom, who refers to career as a holly homemaker/ mommy extraordinaire. She is the author of the blog and the book titled “Another Day, Another Story.” She is a graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Computer Science and Communications, both of which she uses daily trying to outwit her children. Bright moved to The Woodlands, Texas in 2004 from El Dorado, Arkansas. She is the mother of two children and wife to one understanding husband. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, camping, and sitting around the campfire exchanging stories. “Another Day, Another Story,” is available at bookstores nationwide or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. A download version is available direct from the publisher at lulu.com.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sit a Spell Saturdays

Sit a Spell Saturday posts are from my now private family blog MageeBaby. These are a fun read so I'm reposting these tales here on TheSmellyArmpit. :) Do you have a tale to tell or a yarn to spin and would like your site featured here? Email me at mageemommy at gmail dot com!

When I was very very young, I grew up in a small town. People have different ideas about what "small" means; really it's about perspective. Now after living in Louisville and getting to move to West Tennessee, I feel like we are in a small town. But... the small town I grew up in way back when (25+ years) was so small that we could raise 2-3 cows a year in our backyard. Yea. It was so small that people borrowed each others tools and then loaned out each others tools that eventually your tools would get back to you when you would "borrow" them from someone in town.

In this small town, one lazy summer afternoon my dad had been mowing at our house and a friend pulled up along the yard his Pinto station wagon. The man driving was a large tough guy that thought nothing of catching 50 pound catfish in the "ditch"(small river near town). Literally 50 pounds - I saw these with my own eyes! He had his left arm hanging out the window and was leaned out a little talking with dad. So dad and his friend were shooting the bull (as they say) for about an hour when his friend lifted his right hand up inside the station wagon and in his grasp was a snake. "Well, I better get home to my little girl(who was about 8 at the time), she loves to get to play with these." Yep, life in a small country town. You never knew who, or what, was going to show up in your front yard!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Mommy Pooted!

I should have known that my day would be a poo filled adventure yesterday morning. Especially when it started with my daughter pee'ing on me first thing. Then when my little 6 month old was drinking his first baba of the day, he pee'd through his diaper, his outfit, and my what was then fresh shirt. Later that morning, my oldest son sat on the potty for a while until he poo'ed.

Then the whole family made an outing to WallyWorld. It was alot of fun. We did lots of shopping and broke the bank buying formula to last us two weeks. In the midst of this big trip, near the prepacked deli meat, my little girl looked up at me with those big round blue eyes and exclaimed loudly, "MOMMY POOTED!" Sigh. I'm not sure if anyone noticed (anyone but a couple people snickering) but luckily that wasn't broadcast on their speaker system so I know part of the store was left out of the fun.

We made it back home and I had two more giant poopy diapers to change and plus a messy britches to change. Then Mr. Messy Britches left the room at one point while I was changing his sister and reappeared quiet stealthly. That made me nervous until he exclaimed, "I poopoo'ed the potty!" He was so proud to have done this himself and I was too!

The day ended with us playing outside and my little girl running around in circles screaming, "Poot poot pooottt! Poooooot!!"

Things Toddlers Say...

This is a series of posts of funny things my kids have said reposted from my other now private blog. I just think they are so cute I couldn't help myself but to post them all over again! Check back every Friday for more Things Toddlers Say!

This week MageePrincess was playing with a toy phone when it rang. She answered with a "Hellooooo!" I asked, "Who is it?" Her reply was "Grandma, Papa Al, Mamawww, Papaw, Daddy..." Then a pause and then a smile and she said, "BUNNY!"

LOL

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

Mommy Tips Monday

Do you have a helpful household tip you'd like to share? Would you like to have an article posted here AND promote your blog or website? Email your submission to MageeMommy at gmail dot com

Today's Mommy Tip Monday comes from none other than MOI! The owner of this site. I'm writing today a tip that was given to me by my mom. Each year she keeps a calendar handy. This is used as a simple organizational tool to keep all the year's events together. In this calendar at the beginning of the year she writes in all the birthdays and anniversaries of those she loves. Then to make it even easier to remember the birthdays, she highlights them in one color and uses a different color for the anniversaries.

I can't ever remember not seeing the calendar in the junk drawer next to her phone. So it's also a handy location for the calendar because she can make appointments while on the phone and immediately write them on the calendar. I think Mom might even highlight other categories such as doctors appointments to make them easier to spot when seeing what's ahead in her week and month. Hope this information is helpful in organizing all that you may have happening in your life right now especially if you have kids going to many different activities and events!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Sit a Spell Saturdays!

Sit a Spell Saturday posts are from my now private family blog MageeBaby. These are a fun read so I'm reposting these tales here on TheSmellyArmpit. :) Do you have a tale to tell or a yarn to spin and would like your site featured here? Email me at mageemommy at gmail dot com!


When I was very very young, I grew up in a small town. People have different ideas about what "small" means; really it's about perspective. Now after living in Louisville and getting to move to West Tennessee, I feel like we are in a small town. But... the small town I grew up in way back when (25+ years) was so small that we could raise 2-3 cows a year in our backyard. Yea. It was so small that people borrowed each others tools and then loaned out each others tools that eventually your tools would get back to you when you would "borrow" them from someone in town.


In this small town, one lazy summer afternoon my dad had been mowing at our house and a friend pulled up along the yard his Pinto station wagon. The man driving was a large tough guy that thought nothing of catching 50 pound catfish in the "ditch"(small river near town). Literally 50 pounds - I saw these with my own eyes! He had his left arm hanging out the window and was leaned out a little talking with dad. So dad and his friend were shooting the bull (as they say) for about an hour when his friend lifted his right hand up inside the station wagon and in his grasp was a snake. "Well, I better get home to my little girl(who was about 8 at the time), she loves to get to play with these." Yep, life in a small country town. You never knew who, or what, was going to show up in your front yard!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

YardSailing

(For all my OCD friends...I know. I spelled it wrong on purpose.)

Today, my oldest and I went yardsailing. It was FUN! Found a bag full of clothes for my 3 kids and a giant puzzle that we've already played with. I love love love going to yardsales. You never know what you'll find or who you'll see. This trip was no different. We stopped at 5+ yardsales and had a great time.

At one there was even some crazy monkey kids. Why would I say that? Because at that stop, my little boy decided to stay in the car. I parked right in front of the yard and rolled down all the windows for him. The little kids were curious about who was in our SUV and one literally hung on the window and climbed up the side of the vehicle. (And the mom didn't say a word. Sigh.) I was impressed and annoyed by the kids climbing skills as he couldn't have been more than 2 years old. He almost hopped all the way into the car but I shewed him away. Not really the gift with purchase I was looking for! LOL

Anyone else meet some silly people today while yardsaling???