What's in Mommy's bag?

So, I was attempting to make the transition from my Winter bag to my Summer bag yesterday. I didn't realize how much loot I carry sometimes...and what a complete disaster my bag gets to be. As moms we need lots of stuff with us...so thank goodness for fashionable and functional handbags.

First off - my Winter bag of choice - a Joey bag from Matilda Jane Clothing - LOVE it and received SOOO many compliments - it serves me well - great size, machine washable - so damn cute. Perhaps it could use some interior pockets for better organization - but if you know me, I'm really not all about organization.

Okay...ready - here goes...this is my bag just dumped upside down...look at all of the goodies..

...and here it is "organized" by category..


..the snack section..old goldfish, new goldfish, raisins, granola bars, wet wipes for clean-up...and a plate - why in the heck do I have a plate in my purse? I guess I am all proper-like when it comes to serving my kids snacks...

...the hair accessory section - not sure why these are in here...but you never know when you many need a headband or ginormous bow...

...the crumbs/change/wrappers at the bottom of my bag..

... the paperwork section...blank paper(not sure why as I never remember to carry a pen), receipts that can't be read anymore, an anniversary card, keys, phone, gymnastics schedule, a Parenting magazine(not sure why - for reference while I'm out of the house parenting I guess)..oh, no that is not it - I "accidentally" swiped this from Dr. office...

...my wallet - which if you saw the inside, it looks something like the rest of the bag...but it is Oilily...

...the pee accident section(not for me) - for the rare Esther pee accident - everyone must carry a change of pants, a plastic bag for the pee clothes, and new undies - our undies of choice are so cute by Small Paul - we get them here at Izzy and Ash ...

..oh, and what's this??? Can it be a long lost Kinder Chocolate from Germany from my good friend Heidi - oh man, I thought Jed had eaten all of these...sorry folks...gotta go now...

We all get scared sometimes...

As kids grow, they become fearful of many things. Sometimes kids are afraid of things and we just can't understand why...things like people they don't know, animals, swimming, riding a bike, monsters in their closets, etc. We have to remember that we can't tell them NOT to be afraid...but just comfort them and help them work through their fears. Fears may seem irrational - but everyone has their own personal fears..and they are very real to them.

Since I deal with our 2 lovely girls and their new/old fears that they have as they grow-up, I thought it would be only fair to share my top ten fears..(in no particular order)...

1. Worms
2. Christopher Walken - sorry the man freaks me out. I would NOT like to meet up with him in a dark alley or even at Cub.
3. Dying before my kids are grown - am I weird or does every mother worry about this?
4. Worms
5. Coconut - yes, this is a fear, not just a dislike...I won't have it in my kitchen, I avert my eyes when I have to go down the aisle it resides in at the grocery store. I get the shakes when I see it has been baked into a desert. Please, whatever you don, DO NOT use it in your carrot cake.
6. Swimming under water - note, I do swim, I can swim, I can swim well, I can probably even save you if needed...but I do get scared if I am underwater too long..it seriously freaks me out. I am currently happy to enjoy the kiddie pool.
7. Worms
8. Someone hiding behind a shower curtain - does anyone else have to check behind the shower curtain when they enter the bathroom - or is it just me?
9. Needles - sorry, I get the seriously shakes, sweats, etc when I have to have a shot - but don't tell my kids this as I totally expect them to be brave for their shots.
10. Worms

Apple Brown Betty...

...so this is what I made for desert last night...YUMMY! It's so easy that I think even my mom can make it.

The recipe is from one of my favorite Bloggers - The Pioneer Woman

She is an amazing lady - I want to be just like her when I'm 39...oh wait...did I already have that birthday..oh well..she is super cool! I suggest making her one of your favs and reading her daily!

I also want you all to know that I purchased Reddi-whip as the desert topping. I have never purchased this product before, and my girls were very intrigue and excited for the rich creaminess coming right out of a can! I was also a really good mom and squirted it directly into their months...this is an experience all little kids deserve. :-)

Spring Cleaning Day...

Well, it was 29 degrees yesterday morning and the snow was mostly melted, so it's time here in Minnesota to rake out the yuck from the gardens. After the leaves were gone, you could see all of the little sprouts of flowers and plants starting to come-up already - these are no Southern Sissy plants - these are hardy Northern guys that come-up with it's still freezing and snowing...that seems a bit strange to me.

Anyway, my mom handed the girls their rakes and off they went to work - NOTE: I don't do yard work or gardening or anything that has to do with dirt and yucky stuff. I just don't...and I am okay with it. Sometimes I wish I had a beautiful lawn, manicured greenery and a delightful garden...oh, and a hired gardener to do it for me...but I don't and I'm comfortable with my decision.

So, whilst the girls and my mom raked and worked hard, I took their pictures(gosh, I never thought about it before, but that is a really good reason to become a photographer...I can just watch people work hard now..cool!), and reminded them occasionally not to get their clothes too muddy as it would effect the resale value on ebay.

..some photos of my work today. :-)(I just got a new lens and I'm loving it!)

Eloise Hard at Work...note the grumpy face

Esther Hard at Work - note the upside down rake...

I don't want to rake, I want to play now - it's been 2 minutes...

I threw down the rake and will now jump on snowballs..

I think I want to swing instead and watch everyone else work...

...hhhmmm I wonder what this is stuck on my mitten...

Eloise - yes, I am still raking - see my grumpy look...

Seriously, Mom...stop taking my picture...

Yes, I am still raking - but don't I look cute in my Matilda Jane outfit, Oilily boots and Mini Boden jacket! (okay, she didn't say that...that is what I was thinking...)

Rewards for doing such a great job! Yes, it's picnic weather in Minnesota.

Have Melons Will Travel...

Okay, I feel compelled to "out" my mom. We are currently blessed to have them visiting us this weekend. It always warms my heart to see my mom and the girls playing silly games and just laughing and snuggling all day.

However, there is something I need to talk about that always puts a particularly strange spin on their visits....my mom always brings a melon..

When you visit someone - you may bring flowers, candy, wine, a small house gift, toys for the kids, etc...but my mom brings me a melon?.....oh, and I got a can of tomato juice this time too! :-) Don't get me wrong, I LOVE cantaloupe and appreciate the gift....and these small, thoughtful gifts just endear me more to my mom at each visit.

I just hope to come up with something as useful, yummy and thoughtful when I start visiting my girls in 14 years. They always say you turn into your mother, but I seriously don't know if I will be the bringer of melon.

Speaking of taking fruit across state lines though - when I think back, I too have traveled this path and felt an innate need to travel with fruit. Many years back, when I was living in L.A., I drove to Yuma to visit my grandparents. I filled my trunk with oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruits from their trees. It seemed to me at the time there was some fruit law that you couldn't bring certain fruits into California(maybe their wasn't, but I was still nervous)...here I was bringing 30 lbs of citrus across state-lines. It was the first time in my life that I drove the speed limit, and the Arlo Guthrie song "Coming' into Los Angeles" kept going through my mind..like it was illegal contraband or something..."..coming into Los Angeles, bringing in a couple of oranges, don't touch my bags if you please, Mister Customs Man..."
(if you don't know who Arlo Guthrie is...or that he sang that song at Woodstock, I apologize for digressing...but would appreciate you Googling him right now to learn more...)

Anyway, based upon my fruit carrying past ways, I guess it's just setting me up to have the potential to be a fruit carrier to my kids someday too. Maybe I will just be more exotic and carry pomegranates, papayas or mango's. :)

In the meantime, I will just enjoy the cantaloupe and my Mom...

Mommy Love...

...I could snuggle with my girls all day, everyday...I hope they never get too big to sit on my lap and lay their little heads on my shoulder...