Category Archives: Motherhood

My Morning Brew Makes Me Smile

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I took this picture yesterday morning when I was enjoying my green tea. Coffee came later in the morning. Caffeine is a good thing.

Go Mama O coffee mug 2017

My Mother’s Day present

Isn’t this the best mug?

It makes me smile for several reasons:

  1. My seven year old mini-me drew it.
  2. It’s either a younger me or her self-portrait
  3. I emailed the gift idea to my husband prior to Mother’s Day.
  4. He “surprised me” with it.
  5. I accidentally opened the box it shipped in because I’m usually the only one who does online shopping. Oops – surprise!

Here’s to hoping you’re drinking your own favorite beverage from a mug that is as meaningful and fun as mine.  Cheers!

Family Vacation Pictures: The Good, the Bad, and Mostly Silly

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Hi ya! I was scrolling through some pictures from our road trip out to Washington D.C., and I couldn’t help but make some collages of our many attempts to get a nice family picture. It was a beautiful spring day on the Mall. While we missed the main cherry blossoms, it was still a lovely temperature, which was much, much nicer than the spring we’ve been having in Wisconsin. My kids were having more fun being silly for pictures I was trying to take to mark the occasion: their first trip to D.C.

Here’s what I could capture:

Go Mama O. family vacation silly pics 2017

Top: Goofy faces in from of the Washington Memorial, and cuddling her water bottle at the Lincoln Memorial. Bottom: On the road! Daddy O. isn’t so sure about this trip in this picture (ha ha). 

Go Mama O family vacation 2017.png

More family picture attempts that day. That’s my annoyed face in the lower right.

The one on the top left is one of the last pictures of the day. We quick grabbed some ice cream and shakes from an ice cream truck because it was hot and we were all tired from a day of walking.  If my son had worn sunglasses, it might be almost passable.  At least we are all in the picture, unlike the one at the Lincoln Memorial, where my son is hiding behind Daddy O. (riding on his back). I also like the one on the top right, where my daughter looks confused and my son is sort of winking.

At any rate, these collages are fun.  Much like any family vacation in its entirety, they are not perfect by any means. There are good times, bad times, and down right ugly times as kids (and adults) get tired, impatient, and sick of being in the car for so long. We were silly. We did laugh and have fun, and we did it all together, making memories along the way.  These pictures are reminders of all that!

Cheers to family pictures of all kinds!

More stories about our trip will be coming.

Mom Problems: Logistics 

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Hey blog! It has been way too long, and while I wanted to do a #SilentSunday post (yesterday), but this blog has been #SilentMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday for so long that I felt compelled to write something.

Right now I am in summer logistics mode, trying to plan out what will keep my lovely two children occupied, entertained, and learning a bit while school’s out. An added bonus – these activities help keep me sane, giving me time to tackle my to-do list and hopefully work a few hours for my freelancing gig. These are all good things.

The downside of all these activities is the running around and kid shuttling. I think I need a taxi driver hat!

As I look at our proposed schedule, I know it’s my own doing. We want our kids active instead of hanging out at home and peppering me with,”Mom, I’m bored.” I try to keep it reasonable with open days and times for impromptu fun, so there’s a balance. Conflicts do come up, so we’ll have to pick and choose what we end up doing at certain times. Perfect attendance is over-rated, right?

Last night I successfully registered my five and seven year old for a round of activities – awesome offerings through summer school, sports held at the same time, and a class each at our local zoo on the same day.  Today I added in swimming lessons too. Next on the list: vacation bible school, and then I think we’re all set.  Now I just need the weather to cooperate, so we can enjoy t-ball and softball games in the upcoming weeks! Too bad moms can’t control Mother Nature herself!

I’m really looking forward to summer and time will tell how well I planned it all out for my family!

What is your favorite advice to get through summer logistics planning for your kids and family? Please share with a comment!

 

 

 

Fly on the Wall: #LifeGoals and Shams

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Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 9 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.

Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:

Baking In A Tornado                  http://www.BakingInATornado.com

Menopausal Mother                     http://www.menopausalmom.com/

Searching for Sanity                 http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com

Eileen’s Perpetually Busy            http://eileensperpetuallybusy.blogspot.com/

Spatulas on Parade                    http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/

Never Ever Give Up Hope                   http://batteredhope.blogspot.com

Bookworm in the Kitchen            http://www.bookwormkitchen.com

When I Grow Up                       http://kimberlyyavorski.com/whenigrowup/

Here’s who you’ll be hearing from in my house:

  • Me, Mama O.
  • Daddy O.
  • Big Sister, age 7
  • Little Brother, age 5

When I was a Baby

The kids have been fascinated with stories of themselves when they were younger, especially babies. We’ve had some fun sharing memories and have had some funny conversations along the way – like this one:

Little Brother: When I was just born, did I jump into your arms.

Me: Well, not exactly. You came out, and they put you in my arms. Babies can’t really jump when they’re just born.

Little Brother, crawls on my lap, as I’m seating on a glider chair with my feet on the ottoman and says, “toilet.”  I had to think for a bit, but remembered that the kids made up this “game” when I sat in this chair with my feet up.  “Oh yeah, that’s what you meant when you sat on my lap and said toilet.” It’s not that he had to use the toilet. Just go with it, Mom.

#lifegoals

Me to Big Sister, “I like your cardigan. I’d wear it if it were in my size. Someday maybe we can share clothes.”  And possibly shoes too…fingers crossed! Seriously, sometimes her clothes is cuter than mine! Someday – #lifegoals

Me & Daddy O.
Daddy O (referring to the pillow shams: These are on the floor 90% of the time!
Me: Yeah that’s why they are called a sham.

Daddy O. (looking at Big Sister’s jean jacket): Shouldn’t you iron that?

Me: (who HATES ironing): No, you don’t iron jeans, silly!

What Really Goes on at Scout Camp

Me: I was thinking about looking at sending big sister to a girl scout day camp.

Little Brother: Do they hunt deer?

Me: No, it’s not like they live off the land.  They may make a fire, but I’m sure they have food ready for them.

Daddy O: It’s not like Oregon Trail.

Me: Where they hunt for berries and then get dysentery. (This joke is going over the kids’ heads completely, by the way.)

Big sister: That doesn’t sound like fun.

On Money

Big sister:  Can I just get an allowance?
Me:  No, you need to do chores for money.
Big sister: No, just get money every week
Me: Just for being my daughter? No. You need to do work to earn money.

Learning Early

Little Brother goes to school half days, but has recently shared with me, “Mom, I wish the school days were on weekends and the weekends were on school days.”  I just reply, “Well, those two school days would be super long. I don’t think it’s going to change.”

He then said, “Maybe God could change that.”

I think that may fall under the “unanswered prayer” category, but I think it’s sweet that he’s already pining for longer weekends at age 5.