Confused Yet?

OKay, to read all things non-parenting related, please visit Kiki and I at our respective blogs:
Stilettos, Starbucks and Spit-Up
Blogdeedah!

Confused yet? Good, then our job is done here ;-)

My little cupcakes

As most parents, or at least I like to think what is most parents, I do my best to find the perfect recipe for parenting. 1/3 cup of empathy, 1/2 cup sympathy, 2 heaping full cups of creative and childlike play, 1/4 cup of redirection, 3/4 cup positive reinforcement, 1/2 cup of stern-not quite the fear of God but the fear of mom will suffice, a pinch of the lines in the sand have been drawn, and of course the rising agent for all children 18 tablespoons (1 added gradually each year) of priceless memories of fun times, great places, games, and conversations. Now, granted that this recipe changes sometimes minute to minute and admittedly sometimes (like a cake or two) no matter how well you *think* you have followed the directions, often you don't get the same taste. Well, no matter how much I love to bake this is a reality I have come to understand and accept that yes, in fact, my children have unknowingly become...my little cupcakes. Some days they turn out fantastic, great tasting, great looking, piped just right, with the perfect balance of frosting and cake ratio, very ready to impress. Like yesterday, when my beautiful darlings played and giggled, they loved the beach, used their manners, turned to me in a quiet car and said Mommy, I love you. My baby Charli-bear kissed me over and over to the sound of a pattern muah, muah, muah, muah. And went to bed without even a peep. Goodnight, sleep tight. What perfect little cupcakes, too bad I'm not having company so someone can see how REALLY GREAT I am at this baking thing. Seriously, I could totally own a bakery. Then there are those days where you follow the same recipe, but perhaps the oven was on for just a bit too long or maybe the eggs and the butter didn't quite come to room temp. It is on these days that even in my best attempts, I would still rather flick myself in the nose then have to tell my toddler (100 times) that her sister is not a ragdoll and to keep her hands to herself, fight over cutting a sandwich in the wrong direction, step on one more damn lego, repeat the same answer to the same question for the tenth time, watch one more episode of Doc McStuffin, and seriously my dear one year old, must you continue to break my blinds!!! ENOUGH! Mommy needs a TIME OUT! Alas, silence, duped, I have been followed into timeout...(posing the question to myself, am I demonstrating time out wrong too???) Conclusion: hideous, dry, YUCKY cupcakes-more than likely the ones served at tomorrow's brunch -of course they are. I don't have time to make another batch! Granted, not all batches are one extreme or the other and sometimes there are a few in between batches that either look crappy but taste phenomenal (alas, the teaching, breakthrough moments that only a parent truly understands the meaning and rareness of) or the ones that if nothing else we can patch up with a little bit of extra sweet frosting and pretty flower on top (edible of course) that makes it look like we did okay on this batch (I'll refer to this as the "grocery store" if you're a mom-you get this!) Is this making sense? Do you get it? Or is it just me? I know I am asking for alot here, but I'm a woman and I have to admit-who settles for mediocre baked goods?

"Controversial"?

I'm not really one to get political, and I don't plan on writing some outrageous rant here (now or ever), but ohhhmahgawwwd I have to write at least a blurb about this. So, we recently purchased Postcards From Buster on DVD because we're big fans of the Arthur books... and *finally* got to watch the "controversial" Vermont episode. This originally aired in 2004 and then was immediately taken out of the show's rotation (all traces of the episode's existence were also ripped off the channel's website). After watching it, I'm not quite sure what all the uproar was about, unless you're easily offended by happy kids, parents that love each other, sugar on snow and sharp cheddar cheese.
Scandalous!
The only thing I found even remotely controversial was the fact that Buster was hell bent on giving his single mother a cucumber for Mother's Day. Oh COME ON, you know you were thinking it too! #WTF #Gigglesnort #obsessivehashtags

A Very Happy 'Birfday' to You!

Birthday blessings to my dear husband Mike today! He is 34 years young, and doesn't look a day over 33! ;-) Viv took this occasion to paint Daddy a picture of his favorite team, the Red Sox! Of course, there also appears to be a green sock, but she claims that is a mustache. We love you Mike!

Very Pinteresting...

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Dilly-Dallying

We're in full-swing dilly bean mode here at the Olmstead Homestead. By "we" I mean Mike, the Master Chef of the family. He's been wanting to try this for a few years now, and this was the year! They are ah-mayyy-zing! Just the right amount of garlic with a hint of jalapeno.

I would like to make some labels- any ideas name ideas? My suggestion of 'Big Mike's House of Dill' was sadly rejected.

Bratpack

Hello Friends,
Long-time-no-write, I know! Life, as we know it, sometimes has a way of shaking things up a bit. I can tell you  that many changes have occured since my dear Kiki or I have written here last. Some good changes, some sad but full of promise.
First of all, I accomplished next to nothing on my Summer Bucket List I posted months ago. I did drink copious amounts of iced tea, and got in a few books and BBQs, but that is where my checklist was folded into a paper airplane and flown into the recycling basket.
The biggest news of all is that both Kiki and I and our families have moved! I'll get to my story later, but first I have to confess to the fact that I was not wholly ready for the announcement that my BFF, My Soul Sister, my Partner in Crime and Fashion was moving to a different CONTINENT. Okay, I exaggerate- south of the Mason-Dixon Line does not constitute as a different continent, but I would be lying if I said it didn't feel that way at the time of said announcement!
On one hand, I was SO excited for my best friend and her amazing family to have this opportunity, and proud of them for having the courage to go! On the other hand,  I felt like I was grieving and selfishly wanted things to stay the same forever. But that is not what friends do... or at least not what friends- real friends  act upon. True friends, the kind that become family, act with love, support, and the knowledge that nothing really needs to change.
Any old who... as of late I have become not only very sentimental, but quite gut-wrenchingly aware of the fact that I am  blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. You've heard all about my hubs and darling daughter, but I'd like to take a minute to talk about the other loves of my life-  my bratpack.
It is very rare in this life, that we find a friend (let alone several) that you share such a bond with, that there are literally no words to properly describe it.   I won't even try, except to say that I assume it is somewhat comparable to the Blind Melon's tap-dancing bee finally finding finding her fellow bees (only with less wearing of tutus... maybe).

Yes, I know you probably have this stuck in your head now, and you're welcome ;-)

Cheers and thanks to friends who complete us! My family and I are so blessed to have you! <3

More later about my family's move!