Works For Me Wednesday: Free Movies

Looking for something to do this summer with the kids? Something free and in someone else's air conditioning? Both Regal Cinema and AMC are offering free family movies this summer. We didn't go last year but we have friends who go often and it's a great way to get the kids out of the house and some free entertainment. You can search your area and then print out a schedule for the whole summer. Works for me! Visit Shannon to find more WFMW tips!

http://www.regmovies.com/freefamilyflicks/index2.jsp

http://www.amctheatres.com/smc/index.html

Cinemark is offering a discounted rate and family movies also. http://www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/index.htm

Introducing.....

Sawyer the Cute Puppy. Cutest puppy I've ever seen. After almost a week of wondering if he'd be ours or if he'd even live, we are so happy that as of Tuesday, he'll be home with us! You can totally expect more of his cute little face around these parts.

Works for Me Wednesday: Easy Dinner Rolls

These yeast rolls are the best! Remember back in elementary school when the rolls were huge and sweet? This is the ones! They are so easy and even easier if you have a bread machine to do the kneading for you.

1 cup water

2 T butter, softened

1 egg

3 1/4 cup bread flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 t salt

3 t yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan in the order listed. Select dough cycle. When cycle is finished, grease cookie sheet. Divide dough into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into ball. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Brushes with melted butter, if desired. Cover with clean cloth; let rise 30-40 minutes or until double.** Heat oven to 375. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter again, if desired.

**My bread machine has a rising cycle built in so if I'm strapped for time, there's no need for this step of extra rising. I just divide the dough, brush with butter and bake! They are so wonderful! If you try them, let me know how you like them.

Visit Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer for more Works for Me tips!

Doggone Right

For the longest time, I've been wanting a dog. Not wanting as in willing to actually go out and get one. Wanting as in going to the SPCA and looking longingly at all of the cute dogs there. At least once a week, I drag one or more of my sweet family members there to gaze with me. So far, no dog has really seemed like "the one" for me. So, we leave and I'm a little sad that we don't have a dog. But also, a little glad. Don't tell my husband that. A tiny part of me just isn't sure that we're ready for this step. We have two kids and we have no immediate family in our area. So, when we travel, we'd have to kennel or have a friend watch the doggie. Then, there's the poop. Scooping the poop is not my favorite job. Luckily, Big Daddy doesn't mind doing it...much. But, later this year, Big Daddy will be deployed for a while. I'll be the Poop Scooper Supreme. I'm ok with that, I think. I think.
When Big Daddy is away, I think it will be nice to have dog to keep me company when the kiddies are in bed. They love dogs. I love dogs. Big Daddy loves dogs.
Yesterday at my weekly trip to the SPCA, there was a puppy. A beautiful puppy. He is so sweet and calm. He's beautiful. Did I mention that he's sweet....and beautiful? He's available on Monday for adoption. My name is now first on the list. Which means that if I'm there when the doors open or within 5 minutes thereof, that Doggie is my Doggie. We have to decide if we are ready for this. Are we ready for this? He's beautiful (did I mention that?) and if we don't adopt him, number 2 on the list will. He will have a home the day he becomes available, whether it's ours or not. My friends all say that this is sweet and oh how nice that you have this opportunity. But, no one is giving me their honest opinion about getting a dog. I realize this is our decision but I'm so torn! Will I have my hands full already with two kids or will throwing a dog into the mix really matter? He's already around 4 months old so he's not a brand new pup. Oh boy. Help?

Girls, girls, girls

Remember that old Beastie Boys song? No? Me neither. :)

So, this whole motherhood thing can suck sometimes. Before you blast me, listen closely. I do not have the ability that some mothers have to just sit by and let my kids learn life's hardest lessons without interference. I just don't.

I've never liked girls. I'm not driving home my heterosexuality here, I mean I've never been one to have lots of girl friends. There's a reason for that. Girls are the most hateful beings ever created. They will manipulate you. Talk about you behind your back. Use cutting comments to make you feel horrible about something that they are actually insecure about. Play mind games. The list could go on and on. Really, it could.

Now I have a girl of my own. Remember this? She's can be a fireball. At home. But, around other kids, she's a little girl who is eager to please and wants to make friends. I've seen bigger girls make fun of her hair and clothes in such a way that she thought they were being her friend, all the while they were giggling and making fun of her. I've seen a girl her age gather all the lego blocks at the table and dare her with a look so evil to touch even one. I've heard almost every day she attends a local preschool of the girl there who pushes her and then gets her friend to join in and make fun of her. You know what she said to me one day? "Mom, they are still my best friends, even if they aren't always nice?" SHE'S ALMOST FOUR. I'm so not looking forward to junior high, where the venom is even more potent.
My heart breaks at her innocence. I want to tell her that I'll take care of all of it and that I'll talk to the mom's of all of those girls and make it all better for her. But, it's not the right thing to do, at least not always.

Yesterday, I was chatting with two other moms who have girls older than Sister, one in elementary and one in junior high. The stories they tell reassure me that I want to lock my (mostly) sweet girl up and never let anyone break her heart again. I want to protect her from all of those things that will make her doubt herself. From the words that will be said in junior high but will sting to her core for the rest of her life. Yeah, I've got a little emotional baggage in that area and I want to keep her from it.

My hat is off to you if you are a mom who has this ability to sit back and allow them to learn the hard lessons. Can you teach me? And, can you say a prayer that any more children born to me will be boys because I can't take this girl stuff!

While you're at it, visit Chris over at Notes from the Trenches because she's going through it, too. As grown up girls who dislike girls, we have to stick together.

Why didn't someone warn me?

For as long as I can remember, I have heard so much about the "terrible two's". You know, the mysterious age where your sweet baby becomes a crazed tantrum throwing toddler. My kids have had their fair share of terrible two moments. Brother is now two and honestly, he's never been sweeter, except when he doesn't get his way. Don't tell me, I know it's coming. I have been warned about what to expect in the second year.
The thing that I was NEVER warned about what that glorious age of three almost four. In the past month, Sister has discovered her inner teenager. We have the eye rolling, the back-talking, the stomping, the wailing, the "it's not fair", the silent treatment. Oh yeah, and those tantrums, they're still around, too.
What the freak is going on here? I've got myself a full blown teenager over ten years too early. This, no one warned me about. Not one single person.
However, when I share my angst and my 'I may have just raised the first pre-pubescent diva' stories with friends, what do I get?
"Oh yeah, little Sarah went through that stage too. I thought I'd die before it was over."
OH REALLY? Well, dear best friend, why didn't you warn me what I was in for? I'd love a little dose of truth to prepare me. No. Wait. I probably would have snorted something to myself about how my precious little princess would never ever do something so sassy as roll her eyes at me. She'd never ever scream until my ears bleed just because she can't have the green cup. NEVER. Not my little one.
So, ladies, listen to me. I'll tell you. Three going on four sucks. The dark times make me forget the fun times most days. What? You don't believe me? Don't worry. I'll send you a copy of the book I'm working on "Thank God I Made It To Kindergarten Without My Mom Selling Me To The Gypsies".

Works for Me Wednesday:Birthday Edition

Birthdays are a HUGE DEAL at the Little People House. I personally love when people get all fussy about my birthday and so I try to do the same for others. In fact, my kids have been known to think that your birthday actually lasts for a whole week....yes, I may go a little crazy.

Having said that, my tip has more to do with the aftermath of the birthday than the actual day itself. When it comes to thank you notes for your kids birthday gifts....let them do it! Sister is almost 4 and she's been scribbling her own cards since her first birthday. Of course, back then, she did them in small doses. Plopping 30 cards in front of her back then would have seemed like punishment. Now? She loves it! Wants to send a card to thank people for having a birthday in the same month as her. Again, she may get that little our of control bit from someone....maybe her Daddy :) I still write a little bit of a note in there specifically thanking for the gift that was given but it's only a matter of time before she learns to that part, too. She loves every single part of this whole birthday game. She gets to pick the stamps to send out the cards and put them on the envelope all by herself. She feels like she's helping and she's also learning to be thankful for the people who love her. Plus, I get out of having to do everything all by myself!