BOUNCE TO THE RESCUE!!!

Who knew that dryer sheets had so many uses? Yes, they make your laundry come out of the dryer without static cling and smelling fresh, but here are some novel uses for them that you may not have known, according to Reader’s Digest and an email making its way around Cyberville:

• Repel mosquitoes. Tie a sheet through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season to keep them away.
• Remove fur. Rub a sheet over furniture and upholstery to eliminate unsightly pet hair.
• Perfume the room. Put a sheet in the vacuum cleaner bag to add a fresh scent to every corner of the house.
• Discourage deer. Cut sheets into one-inch strips and tie them onto tree branches in your yard to repel plant-eating deer.
• Eliminate static electricity from your TV or computer screen.

• Put a sheet in your suitcase when traveling; it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it.  While you are at it, travel with several sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed.  That will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in them.

• Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling.

There you have it! The many uses of dryer sheets. Now you know!

Karen

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

Here are my kids visiting their Grandpa George, a veteran of WWII, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Unfortunately they never had the opportunity to know him, but while there, my husband told them many stories about their grandfather.

Here’s to all the veterans out there who never knew their grandkids, or saw their own kids grow up. We owe you.

Karen

Monday Madness- At LEAST 48 hours notice, please

We returned home from our trip late last night, The Hubs and I. To say that today was hectic and overwhelming would be an understatement. I always try to plan for it, but it always bowls me over. There's simply too much to take care of in a 12 hour period. Or maybe my expectations of myself are a little high (Hmmmm.... now we're on to something!)


But I pretty much wanted to cry when I found out that swim practice got bumped up from 6:00 to 5:15. WHA?WHA? I found that out at 4:30. Which would mean I was supposed to be leaving in 15 minutes. I mean, could I have at least had 48 hours notice? I checked the email. They sent it last night at 10:30. Because, you know, everyone is checking their email that late at night for swim practice times. So that leaving in the ext 15 minutes thing?


Uh, yeah. Didn't happen. And I need to be okay with that.


I'm learning it's okay if we don't get there on time sometimes. And it's okay if we just need to sit some things out because, well, sanity is more important. 


It's okay if he scores poorly on one test.


It's okay if dinner is cereal once in a great while.


It's even okay if I let the laundry sit so I can read to them before they go to bed. We found a great book of Hans Christian Andersen during our travels. Amazing fairy tale writer from Denmark. You know- The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Little Mermaid to name a few. As The Hubs is of Danish descent, and Z1 wants to be a children's writer, the book was a must have. I thought they might be getting to old for me to read to them before bed. To my utter delight, I was wrong. YAY!


No matter the madness, it's okay. We'll all get where we're supposed to be sooner or late. 


Yours, Knowing it's okay,


Melissa

Friday Funny- Self Discipline?

So the other day I was in the kitchen. My Z1 came into the room. He must have been feeling a little full of himself, having just returned from a Boy Scout Camp Out where he learned to shoot a rifle. (Yes, I worried all weekend, but that's another blog entirely). 


"Mom," he says,"I've thought of a new name for the dog."


We weren't exactly pleased with the Lolanator, as she had dust chewed through some running gear, including a heart monitor strap. 


"What is it?" I asked.


"BDD," he stated flatly.


"And that stands for...." I led.


"Big. Damn. Dog." 


"SON. Meet me in the bathroom," I said.


"That's okay," he says. "I'll just get the soap and do it myself."


In fact, he did a better job than I would have. 


God love that boy!


Yours, still giggling over the bubbles,


Melissa

5th GRADE GRADUATION. HUH?

When did “graduating” from 5th grade become such a big deal? In my day, we went to grade school through 6th grade, Junior High until 9th grade, then High School until 12th grade. Now it’s Elementary School through 5th grade, Middle School through 8th grade, then finish off with High School. Okay, that’s fine. But we had no celebrations until we actually graduated. You know, High School. 12th grade. On to college or work or whatever. Adulthood.

My kids are completing 5th grade this year and you’d think they were at the end of their schooling, what with the huge deal we’re making over this! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a little teary-eyed over the fact that they’re going to Middle School next year and they’re not my little babies anymore. But all this celebrating is just a little over the top if you ask me. Which obviously nobody did!

We have things going on for the entire next week for our kiddos: a memory book with a page that everyone filled out with questions and pictures (do NOT volunteer for this – believe me on this one!), a CD with pictures set to music, a musical and a half day celebration with a pizza party, just to name a few. (But for some odd reason, our school actually doesn’t have a graduation ceremony, although other elementary schools in our district do, so I don’t know what’s up with that.)

So I just want to know, why didn’t I get anything like this when I was growing up? I feel very deprived!

Karen

Monday Madness- So Close and SO Far

It's Monday. The second to last Monday of the school year. I have called the secretary every day for the past week with transportation changes. I have triple scheduled myself 3 out of the last 8 days. I turned in my grades a day late, one of which I don't even have a grade for one of the students.


YEP.


I'm right on schedule.


How is it that May always hits me as if it is hitting for the first time? I've really got to fix this. 


Right after I finish this blog, fold the laundry, start another load and get the schedule for the week straightened out.


Yours, still thankful in the midst of the madness,


Melissa

Monday Madness- Because I love My Kids...

It's Monday.


Because I love my kids, and because I know you love yours too... YOU MUST READ THIS: http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/


I'm guilty of some of these things. And I'm ready to make the change...


Yours, disconnecting in order to reconnect,


Melissa