School Supplies

When I started school I didn't stop going until I was 30 years old. When I graduated high school I went to college, and then from college to teaching. I've always loved school. However, I don't love it now that I have to send my boys to preschool. It's 3-year old preschool and 4-year old preschool, but this is the start of decades of school. It's also the end of having all my children at home with me. As my mother would say, "It's time to cut the apron strings."

My husband and I went school supply shopping, and we decided on plain folders and plain backpacks. I really wanted the boys to have all the "it" characters for their supplies, but then I realized that it would be better for them to make everything their own. So I wrote their names on each folder, and they picked out their favorite colors of construction paper. The boys traced their hands on the construction paper and I helped them cut it out. We used packaging tape to seal the hands on the folder. When the hands were secure the boys started adding their favorite stickers to the folders. 

The backpacks were a little more tricky. My husband has been collecting patches for many years, so our idea was to add some to their backpacks. We laid out the approved patches for them to pick from. Most were vintage Jeep patches, and I could tell they were near and dear to my husband. He was happy to be using them, but still apprehensive about sewing them onto a preschoolers backpack. They turned out great. 

All of this decorating worked out to get the boys excited about going to school. They were proud of their work, and excited to show it off. We were assured that no one would have the same school supplies as our boys. Everything was made special.

Super stick super heros

My husband steals tongue depressors from the doctor's office, which is really sweet. However, it puts some pressure on crafting time to think of something to do with them. I also worry about the doctor's office banning us.

Luckily, I found some super heroes to make. I traced a triangle for the boys to cut out and had them glue it to the tongue depressor for the super hero cape. They cut out a little strip of construction paper for the mask, which was glued to the depressor. Then they used markers to make the super hero face and decorate the cape.

After the super heroes, we made some ninja turtles. They colored the tongue depressors green. They picked which ninja turtle they wanted to make and cut out the right color construction paper for the mask. It was pasted on the tongue depressor, and a face was made for Leonardo and Raphael.

These super heroes and ninja turtles were quick to make, but they provided hours of fun. The boys flew their super heroes around saving cars from lava. The ninja turtles fought each other.

Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair has been a tradition in my family since I was a little kid. We would get up with the sun, drive 3 hours, walk all day, have a picnic lunch, see spectacular sites and smells, devour a funnel cake, and finally drag our tired sweaty bodies back to the car for the 3 hour drive home. Ahh, the memories.

Last year was the first time I missed the Iowa State Fair in over a decade. I showed pigs when I was in high school and college, and then I started teaching and my students were showing. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I took my own children there this year. This year my parents and niece went with us.

I have a few helpful hints to tackle the Iowa State Fair. First, to avoid parking problems or backed up traffic go to the south side of the fairgrounds. There are usually open lots that you can park in without the miles of walking and traffic jam.

Secondly, look up the food. The Iowa State Fair website lists all the awesome food to try. Once you know what's new and what you like then download the Iowa State Fair food finder app, no guessing needed.

Next, look at a map on the Iowa State Fair website, and be familiar with the air-conditioned bathrooms. When taking 4 kids into a bathroom it's important that it's air-conditioned, which are the Varied Industries Building, Jacobson Horse Arena, and the Walnut Center.

Also, when looking at the map mark the must sees. We can't miss the butter cow, which is in the Agriculture building. We also went on the Ye Old Mill, which is across the street from the Agriculture building. The kid's playground is behind the Agriculture building up a hill, which was also a needed stop.

I knew that we weren't going to see the entire fair, so I was careful to pick out the main attractions for the grown ups and the kids. We saw the Big Boar, the Big Bull, the Giant Slide, the Butter Cow, the Jacobson building (miniature horse show), the Varied Industries Building (free crayons and coloring book), the sky glider, the Bill O'Riley stage (talent show), the Ye Old Mill, and the Kid Zone to name a few.

It was an exhausting fun filled day at the Iowa State Fair, nothing does compare.

Picky Eater

When I was a kid you didn't leave the table until all your food was eaten off your plate. I can remember sitting at the table the rest of the evening until I went to bed. In the morning, I was served the same plate with last nights supper on it for breakfast. It turns out my mom was more stubborn than I was. I ate it with copious amounts of water.

Now that I'm a mom I feel the need not to waste food while at the same time not forcing food on my kids. I'm lucky that my sons aren't too picky about their food. My 3-year old eats everything in site while my 4-year old is a little more choosy. However, I have found some helpful tips to help parents with picky eaters.


I have the boys help make the food. That is really the best strategy because they always want to eat what they have made. Also, giving the food a fun name helps them to think of it differently. We made apple tires for snack time. I cored and sliced an apple. The boys spread peanut butter on it, and added raisins to it.

I also try to let the boys fill their own plates. I tend to overfill the plates, and they know what they like.

I use a wide range of foods for them to try. The odds are in my favor for them to like something I serve.

Remember that your picky eaters aren't going to starve. When they are hungry they will eat. If they aren't hungry try again at the next meal. I give them a vitamin everyday to make sure they are getting what their body needs.

Happy Eating!

Picky Eater

When I was a kid you didn't leave the table until all your food was eaten off your plate. I can remember sitting at the table the rest of the evening until I went to bed. In the morning, I was served the same plate with last nights supper on it for breakfast. It turns out my mom was more stubborn than I was. I ate it with copious amounts of water.

Now that I'm a mom I feel the need not to waste food while at the same time not forcing food on my kids. I'm lucky that my sons aren't too picky about their food. My 3-year old eats everything in site while my 4-year old is a little more choosy. However, I have found some helpful tips to help parents with picky eaters.


I have the boys help make the food. That is really the best strategy because they always want to eat what they have made. Also, giving the food a fun name helps them to think of it differently. We made apple tires for snack time. I cored and sliced an apple. The boys put spread peanut butter on it, and added raisins to it.

I also try to let the boys fill their own plates. I tend to overfill the plates, and they know what they like.

I use a wide range of foods for them to try. The odds are in my favor for them to like something I serve.

Remember that your picky eaters aren't going to starve. When they are hungry they will eat. If they aren't hungry try again at the next meal. I give them a vitamin everyday to make sure they are getting what their body needs.

Happy Eating!

Housecleaning

Early one Sunday morning I found my 4-year old in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher. He had most everything put away with some things left on the counter because he couldn't reach the cabinet with his stool. I was shocked, and then I realized our good fortune. I have two new housecleaners to help.

My theory on housecleaning is a 3 step process:

1. Take a half hour at the end of each day to do surface cleaning. Pick up toys, papers, dishes, etc and wipe surfaces with disinfecting wipes. 

Practicing with their vacuum.

2. Deep clean once a week, which means vacuum, dust, sweep, etc. 

3. Every 3 months dejunk. It's easier to get rid of stuff than find a bigger house. 

Now that my sons are old enough to help I have found jobs for each of them in each of the three steps. The boys pick up their toys at the end of each day, and they are learning to make their beds. It's better to teach them young, so it's something that they will remember always doing. It's like brushing their teeth. When it's time to deep clean the boys dust. They help me vacuum, but only after I already have a turn. The dejunking is a little tougher because they don't want to get rid of any of their toys. Instead we have tubs that we put toys away in and then switch them with other toys from the basement. 

"A place for everything and everything in its place." Benjamin Franklin

Pickled Peck

My nephew once told me that if a lot of kids are around you need to have a lot of pickles around. My boys are no exception to that rule. They love pickles, so when I found an easy pickle recipe we tried it.

I peeled and cut cucumbers and carrots, which the boys used to fill a Ball canning jar. I laid out all the measured ingredients like on a cooking show. They added everything to the bowl and took turns stirring it until everything was dissolved. The recipe is as follows: 

3/4 cup vinegar

3/4 cup hot water

6 Tablespoons of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

We let it cool for 15 minutes and then added it to the canning jar. It went into the fridge for about 3 hours, and then we tried it. It was so good that we ate it all with our supper. 

We plan to try different veggies with the same brine. Zucchinis, green beans, and peppers will be our next experiment. 

Hint: The recipe called for rice vinegar, but since I didn't have any of that we used regular white vinegar. 

Flyswatter Painting

When I was student teaching I was taught how to teach with insects. We bought crickets at a pet store, carefully marked some of their backs with white out, and let them all loose in a dry aquarium. This was part of an experiment to teach biology students the capture-recapture method of population estimation. I then started using crickets in my own teaching to dissect and teach students Entomology (study of insects). However, outside the classroom I'm not fond of dealing with insects, so my sons will step on or swat any insect that needs to be taken care of. So when I heard about this activity I thought it was perfect.

I drew insects on sheets of white paper. I squirted washable paint onto paper plates. I laid everything out on the deck, and gave each of my sons a flyswatter. I told them to dip the flyswatter in the paint and get those bugs. They enthusiastically started slapping the paint and then slapping the paper, which splattered paint everywhere. They giggled and squealed as they got after those bugs. It was such a fun activity.

They noticed that I had drawn different bugs on the paper too. They identified them as they hit them. I didn't get too in depth with my drawings, so they were only identifying flies, caterpillars (European Corn Borer), lady bugs (Japanese beetles), and crickets. I can't wait to take them in the field and show them the actual bugs. Maybe we will take the flyswatters to the field with us.

My mom started calling me a city slicker because of my aversion to bugs, but I will be sure to teach my sons about them in case a career in Entomology or Agronomy is for them. My daughter too when she is old enough.

Hint: Using a roll of paper would be best instead of pieces of paper.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

After teaching for eight years I have some student's comments committed to memory. I wanted to do that with my own children. I'm lucky I can do that because I'm with them all the time. However, my memory isn't what it used to be, so I started quoting them in my notes on my phone. Here are some of those quotes for your enjoyment.

After tucking the boys into bed, my 3-year old said he wanted to sleep in our bed. My husband said that we each have our own bed to sleep in. My 4-year old chimed in with, "but you and Mommy share the same bed." My husband added that Mommies and Daddies do that, and quickly said goodnight.

My 4-year old explained foreheads to us. "Mom and Dad have a 6 head. Rosina has a 3 head, and we have a 4 head." It took us a little while to understand he was basing his numbers on how old/big our foreheads were.

My 4-year old asked, "Why do Pandas keep having babies?" It was a logical question when we were reading a Panda book, and every page had a different picture of a Mommy Panda with her baby.

"Rosina, if you roll over I'll give you a gold star on your back." said my 4-year old. He even got the gold star stickers to show her. I guess that is all the motivation he needs.

My 3-year old said, "Daddy loves green bean juice." This was after we made some green bean baby food. It did look like juice. I told him that I doubted Daddy would love that. I asked him if he would like to try it. He said, "Ummmmmm nope."

I rotate toys between our basement and living room so the boys don't get bored with them. Our basement is not a pleasant place, but the boys have started braving it down there because they know that is where I "hide" the "really cool toys." My 4-year old said this to my 3-year old, "Get a lantern to look for stuff in the basement and wash it with the hose."

"Graham has a lot more energy than I do." said my 4-year old. It's interesting to listen to their language after we have spent a weekend at their grandparents because that sounds like it could have been said by either set of grandparents.

We have an old rotary phone that the boys use to pretend to call people on, which makes it easy for me to eavesdrop on their conversations. My 3-year old said into the phone, "I go work. Bye. Muah." Muah is my version of a kissing sound. I'm not really sure who he was kissing goodbye.

When I was sick to my stomach my 3-year old came up to me and said, "Maybe this make you feel better." He said this as he started rubbing my belly. It did make me feel better.

Kids Day

"When is it kids day?" Nash, my 4-year old, asked. I thought to myself, "everyday is kids day." Instead I asked him why he wanted a kids day. He responded by mentioning that Mommies had a day and Daddies had a day, so kids should have a day too. I couldn't find fault with logic like that, so my husband and I worked out a plan for individual kids days.

My husband and I decided that with three kids and usually a hectic house it was important to take each child individually out on a date for their kids day. Each week one of the boys will go with my husband to a special event or place. As the boys get older they will choose the event, but for now my husband chooses. I also voted that he take each child out because I have all the fun with them during the week.

This Sunday we put our 7 month old down for her nap, and waited for our 3-year old to fall asleep for his nap. Once they were both asleep, my husband took my 4-year old to a car club cruise at a restaurant. They had ice cream and looked at the cool cars. Next week it will by my 3-year olds turn to go out with Daddy. I anticipate my 4-year old having a hard time with this, so nap time is a great way to separate them. Hopefully, over time the boys will become accustomed to this tradition, and they won't have to sneak away during nap time.

Today my 4-year has been lining up cars like at the car show.