Culinary Beginnings

The Big Guy has started cooking lessons. And he is loving every minute of it.

Once he really started to show an interest - obsessively watch cooking shows, asking me over and over to learn to cook - I decided I wanted him to learn the correct ways to do things. I know that I can cook ... but when it comes to say, knife skills and other things? I have none.

I started researching local cooking schools and was surprised to see that there really was not much available for kids. Period. The ones I did find usually had a minimum age of 10, and were in a group setting. Nothing one on one. Some required parents be present - like a mommy and me class. And the prices. (Don't get me going on the prices.) I was not sure what I was going to do when I put it out on Facebook too see if anyone knew of a place I had overlooked. That's when Jason contacted me.

Jason and I went to school together from the time we were 12 and have remained friends till this day. I knew that he had been a chef. I had no idea he had just started his own cooking lessons for kids from his home - Culinary Beginnings. I was thrilled!

I should tell you now that this post is in no way sponsored. I am spreading the word because I think he is an amazing teacher and I want to help him get the word out.

The Big Guy and I arrived last month for his very first class. Jason has a beautiful kitchen in his Woonsocket home, complete with an area for parents to sit and wait during the lesson - with charging stations. I watched and smiled as my son got to pick out his own apron and put his name on it. Since it was the first lesson, Jason asked the Big Guy several questions about what he wanted to learn, what he did and didn't like when it came to food - even what kind of music he liked (because you need music in the kitchen).

Jason handed him a folder and they went over kitchen terms and safety together, as well as proper hand washing techniques. They went over the recipe for the day together and slowly measured everything out. Chex Mix for the first lesson.

That kid was so proud. He grinned all the way home and offered everyone Chex Mix. He made more the morning of Thanksgiving and served it with the meal.

Al took him to his next lesson where he and Jason made salad together, working on knife skills.

His upcoming lesson (taking place next week), will be making Christmas Cookies! He had the choice of making cookies or a pie and was so excited to have a say in what he would be making next. He takes his folder with him each lesson and comes home with another recipe added to it.

Other things I love? When you think of cooking, do you ever think of math, reading, motor skills or even science? Jason works pieces of all these things - and more - into the lessons. I can already see the difference in the Big Guy's confidence in the kitchen.

If you want to know more about Culinary Beginnings, you can visit them on Facebook, Instagram and their website here. Jason is running some awesome deals before the holidays. You can find them here. He caters to kids of ALL ages and even has family classes!

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Third Kid Edition

So I had these photos on my phone from Thanksgiving. I was just about to delete them. I have a habit of sometimes taking several photos over a few seconds to get at least one with a good smile from everyone. Look who popped into the shot for the last four to make faces. Hilarious. And to think I almost missed it.

CW Lanes and Games

I have a tip on an awesome new entertainment spot! CW Lanes & Games has opened up in the Lincoln Mall - right next to Cinemaworld Lincoln! (One of our other favorite places for kids movies all summer!)

Melissa, Jen and I were invited to take our families to CW Lanes & Games Sunday Family Tailgate event the week before Thanksgiving, for a night of bowling in a private room with football games on the big screen, food, and a tour of the new facility. 92 Pro FM, Pat the Patriot and some Patriots cheerleaders were also there to help celebrate the night.

CW Lanes & Games features the CW Bar and Grill, 22 lanes of bowling, Laser Tag, and a huge arcade. Their center opens at 10am daily, with bowling available until midnight on Friday and Saturdays (11pm during the week). The Bar and Grill opens at 11am daily.

We have to talk about the Bar and Grill. The menu? Amazing. We were able to meet Executive Chef Joseph Pestonit. Chef Pestonit has years of experience, training nationwide with a wide variety of cuisines. Selections are cooked to order, using only the freshest ingredients - which is a big deal with this mom. Most impressive is that allergies are no problem at all. The kitchen is not only nut free, but they also have dedicated Gluten Free kitchen space. Before our food was even served, we were asked what allergies our families had. I loved that they were so accommodating. And if you are as obsessed with wings as my boys are, you will be happy to know there are 18 flavors of wing sauces.

The kids had an absolute blast bowling! Pat the Patriot even bowled with them a few times! It was a really great family activity. Before we were even finished with our game, the kids were all asking when we could come back again.

And once the kids realized CW Lanes & Games is available for birthday parties? They were already planning their next birthdays! What kid wouldn't want to have a Bowling, Laser Tag and Arcade party all rolled into one!

When the game was finished, we checked out the arcade. We didn't get a chance to check out Laser Tag, but it's first on the list for next time.

And for my mom and dad friends ... you Will want to check out the bar too. Perfect for a date night - without the kids. (Just don't tell them you went without them!)

Catching Up

So I'm sitting here staring at this page and wondering what to write. One of those times I don't even know where to start. I know that I need a vat of coffee this morning. I'm in catch up mode again and I don't love that.

This week however, has been pretty exciting.

The twins commercial came out - which you can see on actual TV if you live in Massachusetts or Connecticut. If you don't, you can catch it online or watch it here. (I may have watched it like a million times now.)



The Big Guy started cooking lessons this week. A few months ago he started watching the Food Network - like really watching and loving it. He saw some kids competing and decided on the spot that that was what he wanted to do. He wanted to learn to cook (and eventually be on one of those shows). But it's the learning to cook that is most important and he started asking me for lessons.

I have wanted him to have his own thing for so long - apart from his brothers. It's hard when you have 3 kids separated by one school year. They are always going to end up with not only most of the same friends, but into the same activities. I am so happy for him that he found something he really wants. All the months he spent waiting for his braces to come off his front teeth so he could start auditioning like his brothers for movies and more? No longer important to him right now.

If something comes up, he might still want to give it a try - but overall he doesn't want to pursue acting like his brothers. And that is totally OK with me. I couldn't be more proud that he made that decision on his own.

He started cooking lessons this week with my friend Jason and he can't wait to go back again for more! (Future blog post to come about the lessons!)

Yesterday we took a last minute family trip of sorts to New York. The twins had an audition on Long Island. We don't yet know the outcome, but will hopefully hear something soon. It was a long and exhausting day but I wouldn't change a thing. (Except maybe how much I end up packing for auditions ... so many bags.)

Driving home last night with the boys all asleep in the back of the car? I couldn't get a good photo of all three of the boys because the Big Guy was leaning the opposite way - but I love turning around to check on everyone and seeing moments like this.

Everyday Heroes and Disney's Planes Fire and Rescue #FireandRescue

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Disney Planes Fire & Rescue blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

Have you had a chance to see Disney Planes Fire & Rescue? My boys LOVED the movie and we have been eagerly awaiting the DVD release for Blu-ray and Digital HD  - which just so happens to be Tomorrow (Tuesday, November 4th)!

For the last few weeks, I have been part of an Instagram campaign through Social Moms and Disney Planes Fire & Rescue showcasing how kids can be everyday heroes. I have loved being a part of it ... taking time to realize all the little things the boys do each day that I might sometimes overlook. Moments like one of the boys helping his brother with his homework. Or walking into the laundry room to find my oldest trying to do his own laundry for me (even though he had never done it before).

Through the Instagram campaign, I was chosen to write a post about how my boys are my Everyday Heroes. While all 3 of them are my heroes for sure, today I am writing about my 8 year old. My oldest. He was born with cerebral palsy. We didn't know it at the time. We didn't get the actual diagnosis until he was about 19 months old - just one month after his younger twin brothers were born. It had come as a shock to my husband and I. In the beginning it was like he was ahead to hit all the milestones ... until he suddenly wasn't. We were sent for a consult thinking he might need a corrective shoe to help him walk unassisted, only to be met by an amazing doctor who was able to recognize it for what it was.

In the beginning I worried about everything for him. But it didn't last long. My baby didn't know he was any different than anyone else back then and while it might have taken him a little extra time to do something, he did it. And he crushed it time and time again. There was nothing he couldn't do.

Around the time he hit first grade, that is when things got tough again. It isn't easy when you have two little brothers just a year younger than you, starting to do everything you can do and more. It was incredibly frustrating for him. When he fell behind in swim lessons, had trouble ice skating ... when he saw them do anything faster or better? That was it. He was done trying.

His cerebral palsy had once been just something he had that was no big deal. His muscles just need a little help. Suddenly he was letting it define him. I can't do it because I have cerebral palsy he would say. As his mom, it broke my heart. He even started feeling like he didn't want anyone to know - once going so far as to deny he had it when a friend asked.

Why am I writing this if that is how he feels. Well, when trying to decide what I would write about, I actually asked him. I told him I wouldn't do it if he didn't want me to write about it. I could write about something else. I told him he was my everyday hero because he doesn't let anything stop him and he beamed and told me that it would be OK for me to write this post.  You see, the last year we had something of an amazing turn around.

He's had his ups and downs and his moments of frustration, but my baby worked so hard. For several months he was so active in wrestling and some other sports that it actually replaced his weekly physical and occupational therapy. He was told he didn't have to come back for awhile and we would see how he did! He got the hang of swim and worked so hard he is just 2 levels away from making swim team now - which is his new goal. He is no longer wrestling, but  towards the end of the season? He earned a medal wrestling kids who were mostly older and more experienced than he was.

His neurologist sometimes calls him her miracle child when she sees him. It always makes me teary. He's her only patient with cerebral palsy who can do ... all of this. Every day he keeps going. Through all the things that frustrate him. Schoolwork taking longer. Sometimes having to find another way to make something work. But he does it. He is my Everyday Hero for sure and the fact that he allowed me to write this post makes it even more true.

I loved watching Disney's Planes Fire & Rescue with my boys for so many reasons. World famous air racer Dusty finds out that he may never race again. He has a disability in a way. His gear box is broken which could cause him to crash and the very one he needs is no longer made. Realizing he can no longer race, he has to shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting.

Dusty steps up to help a friend who is hurt by a mistake he made - joining forces with a team of veteran firefighters to save historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. Dusty has some mis-steps along the way. He has to learn that it's not just about what one person can do.



The movie is not only really humorous at times, but it sends such great messages. Everyone has to work together - everyone - from the ones in the air to the ones on the ground - to get the job done. No matter how big or small your role is, you are needed. You can make a difference. Along the way Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.

It's a high action adventure story that the entire family will enjoy. I know mine did. We can't wait to pick up Disney’s “Planes Fire & Rescue” tomorrow on Digital HD (available on Blu-Ray too)! For more on Disney's Planes, you can like the Facebook page below.
 

 

You can also join us for a fun #PlanesFireandRescueSweeps Twitter party this Thursday, November 6th, from 7-8pm EST (4-5pm PST). We would love for you to participate and share your photos, etc. You’ll be entered for a chance to win great Disney prizes!

 

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Disney Planes Fire & Rescue blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

 

Wordless Wednesday

                     How I'm choosing to remember today. My favorite of all the old photos.

My last baby

Here we are.

Another month has gone by without a blog post. I swear I am jumping back into this. I miss it like crazy. Writing is who I am. But as usual, life is crazy.

We are in a constant state of packing - unpacking - and packing. Settled in again, but looking ahead to the next. (More on that later.) The boys had their very first trip to Disney. And we have been on the go ever since.

Sometimes I get caught up in the chaos that is our day to day routine. A little voice this morning made me slow down. This guy came downstairs before his brothers got up to tell us his front tooth came out. Last week he lost the first front tooth and I knew it was just a matter of time. It took me a few moments ... but then it hit me. My last baby to lose his front teeth.

Again, I want time to stop.

He crawled under the covers and told me how excited he was to see the tooth fairy again. And that pretty soon he was going to be 8. I told him he still had almost a year to go and how about we just be 7 for now. Or maybe Mommy would have to find Dr. Doofenshmirtz and shrink him back to say ... age 3 or 4. He gave me the biggest smile (oh my gosh no front teeth!) and told me Mommy that's just an animated cartoon.

Ouch.

I need ET.



Or Dr. Doofenshmirtz's shrinkinator.

Throwback Thursday - 1st Family Vacation

Our first vacation as a family. July 2008 in New Hampshire. The twins had just turned one, the Big Guy was two and a half. I have the Doodle Bop and Al has the Bunny Bee.
I am about to burst keeping the secret of their next vacation.

Like professionals

As usual, it's been a whirlwind around here trying to balance everything - school starting - and so much more. My heart had been feeling heavy the last few days as September 11th drew closer. We were all up early yesterday morning because the twins were scheduled to film a commercial together in Connecticut and as I got the boys ready, I told the Big Guy I didn't want him watching the news ... especially today. (How many kids do you know that sneak the news? I have one.)

The boys and I were out the door just after 6am and I found myself listening to Z100 out of NY on the way as they remembered 9/11. A town over from where the commercial was to be filmed, flags lined both sides of the street all the way down the main road and I found myself in tears as I tried to explain to the boys why the flags were there. I silently told myself I would find positive things in this day - even if we had just spent nearly 3 hours in and out of traffic driving to the set.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I was able to see the boys film anything together. When they did the movie, they were switched in and out. The Doodle Bop has done commercials since, but this was the Bunny Bee's first - and I was thrilled they got to do this together as brothers.

I love watching the boys film. I stand there in awe of that fact that they are my babies. I don't think that I could do what they can do - and yet there they are, doing it. They showed up exhausted between not sleeping well the night before and the long car ride there ... but the moment it was time for them to start filming? They were on. Smiling, laughing, following directions. Getting it done. Like professionals. Only they are 7 year old kids. They even picked up an extra scene or two, replacing a child who was having a rough time.

They got their school work done in between scenes and occupied themselves with coloring, the iPad and video games after that. It was an incredibly long day. I watched them smile, tell jokes, and after lunch have to eat more cereal and pizza for takes than I thought would fit in their stomachs. They didn't complain once in their 9 hours on set (not counting the do I have to do my homework complaint).

On the way home, we called Al and the Big Guy to chat. The Big Guy filled the twins in on his day, even asking about theirs and how they did - and told them the dog missed them and so did he. The Big Guy told me he made another new friend, and I was so excited for him. Not to mention so proud of how he spoke to his brothers.

I listened to the twins talk a bit on the way home, and I heard the Doodle Bop sleepily say "Congratulations on your first commercial by the way, you did a great job!" The Bunny Bee thanked him.

And then my heart exploded.

We were out of the house a total of 14 hours and everyone would be going to bed later than I wanted on a school night. We let them all watch a little TV together to decompress, and then it was bedtime.

I expected fights and tears this morning from over tired kids. Instead, I had semi happy guys ready for school. How they can transition like that, I don't even know.

All of that? That's my positive. Through the stress, the chaos ... those boys ... they melt my heart and I couldn't be more proud of all 3 of them.

A Day in the Park - A Remembrance of Jayce

A local family lost their son in a tragic accident earlier this summer. On July 3,18 month old Jayce Sherman Chattelle drowned in the family's backyard pool.

Jayce's family is trying to turn this tragic accident into something that will help others - they want to prevent another incident like this from ever happening to another family again. Drowning is sadly the leading cause of injury related death among children between the ages of 1-4. In Jayce's memory,

 

 

 "A Day in the Park - A Remembrance of Jayce the Healer" will take place on September 14 in India Point Park from noon to 5pm. This fundraiser (which they hope to turn into an annual event) is to help create awareness of water safety and prevention of childhood drowning by providing:
-CPR instructions
-FREE door alarms
-FREE life jacket suits for babies and toddlers
-FREE swimming lessons to families with young children
-Pool safety tips
There will also be food, entertainment, face painting, Disney Characters, a bouncy house, photo booth, “Tony” the Dancing Cop and more.

Envious Swimming will have a booth set up at the event. The Envious Swimming program is home to over 700 active swimmers and Rhode Island’s only Make a Splash Partner. Envious offers swimming lessons for all ages - infants through adults. Everyone who attends A Day in the Park that is not currently enrolled with Envious will receive a free swim lesson. Envious will also match the amount of money raised that day for a scholarship.

Please help share and spread the word.

I hope to see you there September 14th.

 

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Sol Republic Wireless Deck Giveaway

*Disclosure: I was given a Sol Republic x Motorola DECK 1500-10 speaker in exchange for a blog post and social media promotion. This is my honest review. Stick with me, because at the end of this I get to give one away to a reader!*

I'm the kind of girl that has to have music on all the time. Always have been. And I am always singing.

For some reason I never thought to add a radio to my kitchen when I am cooking - so I will end up opening my laptop up and playing music there, or from my cell phone. It works OK, but I feel like I can never get it as loud as I would like it. And have you ever tried dragging a laptop from room to room while you are cleaning? Just so you can hear your playlist? Not so fun.

I never really gave much thought to something like a wireless speaker. That's sort of my husband's department. He's up on those things. Sol Republic contacted me about reviewing a wireless speaker and I jumped at the chance to try one out.

Honestly, I had no idea how much I would love it. I hoped it would make things easier, sound better ... but I really wasn't sure what kind of a difference it would make. The package came with the SOL REPUBLIC x Motorola DECK 1500-10 speaker (featuring R2 Sound Engines and 360° Full Sound for immersive audio) and my oldest held it proudly.

Even my 8 year old knew what it was for! Ours came in the lemon lime color, with an AC adapter, USB charging cable, audio cable and a case. (I love the stretchy black case!)

Once we charged it up (charges amazingly fast by the way!) and synched it to my cell phone, I had access to my entire playlists and radio stations. The sound quality was great and I could get it as loud - or as quiet - as I wanted it. I was jamming out in my kitchen while cooking and later cleaning up.

My husband is in love with it's Heist Mode, which lets you pair up to 5 devices, so your friends can take turns controlling the speaker. Which means he can play his music on it too.

After that, we realized it could pretty much go anywhere with us. We throw it in the car and it goes just about everywhere with us. We played a few hours of music at a park while having a family cookout.

We took it to the beach and played music while the kids built sand castles. (See it right there on top of the polka dot cooler bag?)

I'm going to be upfront here. It was retailing for about $199.99 though you can now find it $149.99 (with free shipping) through the Sol Republic website. I know the price seems high - or at least it did to me. But after the last 2 weeks of using it I can tell you it is WELL worth the price.

With school starting this week, the possibilities for what we can do with this - and where we can take it - are almost endless because it's so small and compact. My cell is always with me and it's easy to throw the speaker in a bag and just go. Those hours we sometimes spend sitting waiting for auditions for the boys? It's coming with us - quietly. Before and after swim lessons? It can go to the pool too! Boys want to play a bit on the playground after school? They can rock their tunes. (They haven't stopped playing with the deck since it came home.)

It even has an option for speakerphone, enabling hands-free calls.

In addition to their website, you can also follow Sol Republic on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Enter below on the Rafflecopter for a chance at winning a Sol Republic deck for yourself! (Open to residents of the US and Canada only. You can only win once with Sol Republic in a 6 month period.) After you enter my giveaway (which will be shipped to you from the company, color of the deck not guaranteed), head on over to my friend Mama Loves Media and enter for another chance to win there!

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Releasing the butterflies and praying mantises

You know how much we love Insect Lore. (This post is totally Not Sponsored by the way.) For what I think is the 3rd year in a row, we sent away for the caterpillars for the boys. And for the 2nd year in a row, we had the praying mantis egg come at the same time. With the crazy cool weather we have been having I started to worry if any of them would hatch before the weather really took a turn. I usually order them earlier in the summer.

The caterpillars turned into their cocoons in no time, but 3 out of the 5 fell to the bottom of the jar. We had never had that happen before. We looked it up and saw that they were in danger of their wings not forming right. Al attached each one carefully to a cotton ball with a bobby pin (a true MacGyver move) and hung them back at the top of the enclosure to be sure they would be OK.

A few days later? We had 5 beautiful butterflies. And we didn't get to see a single one hatch. It happened overnight with the first 3, and then later the next day with the second 2.  We gathered some flowers at the park and put sugar water on them so we could keep them at home for a few days.

Yesterday the praying mantises started hatching. And the boys missed that too. Huge difference from last time where we were able to watch everything and video it all. We ended up getting lucky though, because it took a full two days for the pretty mantises (as the boys still call them) to finish hatching, so they were able to catch some of it.

We decided that today was the day to let everyone go. The boys carefully transported everyone to their Nonno and Lita's house because they felt they would like those gardens and flowers the best. They were all able to hold the last butterfly who stuck around for a few minutes with us.

 

Then we went to the vegetable garden and started to let the praying mantises go in several different places. Even my niece G held some of them. The boys loved how they slowly crawled on their hands and decided it must be because the praying mantises knew that they had raised them. 

 

 

Here is a quick video of the butterfly release I took. We definitely can't wait to do this again next summer.

  

 

Positivity

It may not be Thankful Thursday, but I feel like it's overdue around here. Laura tagged me on Facebook to list 3 positives a day for an entire week. Something about the chaos in my life lately makes it seem a little daunting.

But we can totally use some positivity around here so here we go.

I am so thankful for my kickass friends. The ones I can call when everything feels like everything is breaking down. The ones who remind me that there is always something to be thankful for. The ones who tell me I need to meet them at the gym because I will feel better. The ones that I can kick back with on the lake - or at the beach - at their house - or at a pig roast with ... and just be.

I'm thankful for amazing sunsets, and time spent with my boys. All 4 of them.

I'm thankful for Al being on vacation this week. It doesn't even matter that we aren't going away this time around. The little day trips and just spending time as a family (in-between looking at houses) before school starts is perfect enough.

I'm thankful that the boys get to spend days like these with family.

I'm thankful we live so close to the water, because it's part of what keeps me going.

I'm thankful that we are able to surprise the boys with their first trip to Disney in just a matter of weeks. The countdown is in full effect (unbeknownst to the kids).

For all this and more, I am thankful. And a big thank you to Laura for reminding me that there is always something to be positive about. I tell the boys that all the time - but sometimes I don't always remember it for myself.

Getting unstuck

Ever feel like you are stuck right where you are - while also being pulled in several different directions? I'm being pulled, but my feet are still planted. I think that's how things are right now. I feel like I have been composing this very post in my head for what seems like days now. But I can't make all the words come out right.

Things with the dog? I know you know how that is turning out. I guess that's a blog post for another day because right now I just can't.

Last week brought some serious changes. In addition to leaving some things behind, there were new things we started as well. We buckled down and started seriously looking at new areas. Houses, neighborhoods, schools and more.

And I have done so much ... soul searching I guess. This house that we live in? Has never really ever felt like home. Just the place that we lived. Our first apartment? That felt like home. An entirely too tiny one, but it was home. Moving into this one over 10 years ago, I told myself that it would feel like home over time. In what seemed like the blink of an eye it went from too much space for the two of us, to crazy small for the five of us. I realize that we spent so many years talking about moving on, having one foot out the door ... I mean our first child wasn't even supposed to go to Kindergarten where we are (by original plans) ... how could it ever have felt like more than just the place that we live?

The last year and a half has been a constant roller coaster when it comes to trying to sell this house and move on to where we want to be. We never imagined we would still be here now, still trying to work it all out. My mantra for over the last year has been hold the vision trust the process. No matter how hard it has been, how much I started to doubt it, I held on to that. I said it to myself all the time. I packed up part of the house, took all the photos from the walls ... surely something would come.

Last week I thought I found what we were looking for. And it couldn't have been at a better time with less than 2 weeks till the start of school for the kids. For 3 days we went back and forth with someone who misrepresented who they were. I knew something wasn't adding up but I wanted it to work ... only to find out it was all a scam. I am so thankful I knew better than to give out certain information - or send money - but I was so mad that I wasted my time. And that someone would do such a thing.

Our relator is getting a list put together for us of places we can start checking out tomorrow. To rent instead of buy - so we can take more time and figure out what it is that we really want. Because everywhere we really want doesn't seem to be available right now.

I'm trying hard to go with the flow, see where things take us ... but I think we all know I'm not really a go with the flow gal. I'm a planner and I will plan that ish to death. (Ask my husband who I am currently driving crazy.) The up in the air stuff is really hard for me. I'm taking today to just ... do nothing. Do what I have to do, but house wise, nothing. Tomorrow I will wake up and it will be on. Pulling out the boxes and going room to room.

Getting rid of what we don't need, boxing anything that I can. With all the things I have let go of in the process, how can there Still be so much stuff left. Endless.

If there really is something to this whole manifesting/visioning thing ... now is the time it all needs to come together.

Decisions

Because I needed more chaos in my life, we got a dog 16 months ago. A tiny adorable puppy that we all loved from the moment he came home. We had wanted to fill that space that Merlin left a few years before when he passed away, but knew the boys needed to be older first.

I thought they were old enough. I thought 3 boys, a dog and a fenced in backyard would be the perfect combination. I pictured them all running around for hours in the yard. In the beginning, it was all adorable.

And then he grew to the size of a small horse. A most of the time dirty one (no matter how many baths he got). The boys could no longer hold his leash. He became stronger than they were in what seemed like an instant.

I knew he would be giant, but I didn't think it would be a problem. The problem was, I had boys who would rather spend hours cuddling with the dog and being low key - which sometimes he loves - but in reality he needs so much more.

When he started destroying the house, I blamed it on him being so young. Surely he needed training, obedience school, heck let's ship him off for a week of intensive training. Only over the last month or so have I realized that that isn't the problem at all. As he started choosing the boys most precious stuffed animals from their beds that he had never before touched, eating things from the inside of my pocketbook, getting into all the things that are actually most important ... I realized what it really was.

He's bored.

And it's our fault.

I spend half my day chasing him down to retrieve whatever he is eating. Chew toys? With the exception of those super hard rubber balls, he takes them apart in minutes. (Even the ones we bought that said extra tough and practically indestructible. Ha!) No match for Captain America. No matter how much we spend, a typical toy lasts less than an hour from the time of purchase in the house with him.

He's an amazing dog with the boys though. How many dogs do you see that let 3 boys constantly lie on top of him whenever they feel like.

He's never once growled at them - or any of us. It's tough to have people over though, because he gets so excited all he wants to do is jump on you and lick you to death. For hours.

We have been doing him a disservice though ... and I finally see it. For weeks on end I have been lecturing the boys. Go play with him. Throw him a ball. Take him out in the yard. They don't want to hear it. When I do force them all out, I watch the three of them stand on top of the play structure where he can't get to them. It's not fair. I spend my days yelling about this dog we were supposed to love.

Yesterday I hit the breaking point. It hadn't even been 24 hours since I had given a huge lecture to the kids - that they need to play outside WITH the dog for at least a half hour a day (which isn't anywhere near enough but I figured it would be a start) or I would be finding him a new family. They promised they would play with him - until the next day when they decided they didn't want to go in the yard.

Then he got to Mr. Monkey again - and ran right out the back door with him. I spent several minutes chasing him around the yard as he chewed him and it broke my heart a little. He knew it was important to one of the boys and that someone would have to come after him. Al and I had a talk when he got home. We took the boys and the dog for a long walk together. When we got back home, we sat them all down.

There are no more second chances. This isn't about not loving Captain America. This is about doing what is right - and fair - for him. Because he needs so much more. The boys have one week to show us a few things. To play outside with him every.single.day. To throw him a ball. To spend more time with him instead of closing him out of a bedroom so they can play a game without him. If they can do these things for an entire week Captain America can continue to live with us. If they can't? We will be finding him a new home with a family who Can spend more time with him.

And there will be no more pets for a good long while. Not until everyone is older. And IF we get another dog someday, it won't be a puppy. Maybe an older dog.

I thought back to how easy it was with Merlin. The Big Guy was 3 when we had to put him down, the twins about a year and a half old. There was no chaos with Merlin. He would follow them around, cuddle with and lick them ... lie down in the backyard while they played. He was so old by the time the boys were born. He was great with them - but if I'm honest with myself, I have to remember what it was like in the years following Al and I picking him out from the pound. Disaster after disaster. He had so much energy and he destroyed everything. The years passing by sort of make you forget that.

The boys cried and said they didn't want to give him to a new family. But then a few minutes later, the Doodle Bop asked if we could go say goodbye before we drop him off to a new family. The Bunny Bee asked if he could take some extra photos to remember him by.

It kind of sounded like they were throwing in the towel.

This morning though, they took Captain out in the yard on their own and have been playing for over an hour without incident. They may not really be playing With him, but at least they took him out. And they are filling his water bowl. I don't know if it will last past today, but I guess time will tell. There will be no more lectures or reminders. The kids know that. As much as I want things to work out - and I don't want to take this dog away from the boys - I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. Deep down, I have a feeling this will only last a day or so. A week from now we may very well be looking for a new family for Cappy.

And it feels terrible even though I know it would be the best thing for him.

Wordless Wednesday: Back to Basics edition

The Saga of Mr. Monkey

Mr. Monkey has been with us since before the Big Guy was born. I was pregnant with him - my first baby - and Lianne and Mike gave him to me. I put him aside knowing that he would be THE stuffed animal. The one that never leaves a child's side.

Only because I didn't have time to pull up all the photos from our old BabyCorbo website tonight, I pulled the oldest ones I could find with Mr. Monkey from Facebook.

They were together from the beginning, and no matter where the Big Guy went, Mr. Monkey came too.

These days he may act more like a 15 year old than an 8 year old - and Mr. Monkey has been staying behind the last few years (with the exception of big things like the shark tooth being removed) - but he's still always there at night. The "stuffed-da animal" (as the boys always called them) of choice.

This morning I heard sobs like I don't think I have ever heard before. Something was different. The twins brought the Big Guy over to me and he was devastated. Holding Mr. Monkey in one hand and his eyes in the other, trying to tell me that Captain America was eating him in his crate, tears streaming down his face. Puncture holes all over his little fur.

My heart broke for the Big Guy as I hugged them to me. I promised we could fix him. I got the kids ready, put Mr. Monkey in my pocketbook ... and straight out to the craft store we went. The twins tried to cheer the Big Guy up on the way. The Doodle Bop said he should get him Google Eyes. The Bunny Bee thought it would be cooler to get him two eye patches and rename him Pirate Mr. Monkey.

We went through the aisles and settled on a package of eyes that looked about the right size. I put him in the washer and dryer when we got home.

Later, I found the boys all talking to Mr. Monkey. Or maybe it was more like yelling. Into his eyes.

He doesn't have eyes to See - he can still hear with his ears!, I laughed.

The boys laughed too ... but continued to talk into his eyes so they could be heard better ... or something. When the boys went to wrestling practice tonight we started the surgery. Well, truth be told, Al performed the surgery. I wasn't getting the eyes in right so Al took over while I assisted and took photos.

There was so much damage we couldn't really sew where I wanted to. We had to break out the big guns. The Kragel if you will.

He doesn't exactly look the same anymore, and he's not soft around the eyes anymore because of the way the glue hardened, but he has eyes and he can see again. It's a Mr. Monkey Miracle!

(And I may or may not totally be shopping for the second Mr. Monkey that I should have purchased 8 years ago for just in case something ever went really wrong with this one.) We made it through the baby stage, the toddler years, crazy younger twin brothers ... but I'm not sure we will survive the Captain America puppy years.

All Things Sex Tape and LA

A day later than promised, but suspense is good right?

My first blog post about the Sex Tape movie press junket went up on Tuesday at The Mommyhood Chronicles. It meant so much to me that Melissa sent me to LA in her place last week. I had an absolute blast.

I said goodbye to my boys at the airport early Wednesday morning

and met up with longtime online friend Rachel (so fun to finally meet in person), Dr Daisy and Sarah at the airport. Shortly after, we were checking into the beautiful Four Seasons in Beverly Hills by early afternoon California time. As is our tradition from all the press trips I used to go on, once I was settled into my room I had a video chat with the boys. I have to show them every spot of my room and even outside on the balcony - which they thought was so cool. I have to admit, it was an awesome view.

That night we took a bus to the AMC Century City 15 to see the Sex Tape movie premiere.

I sat with Heidi and Jess and we laughed the entire time. All I really knew going in was from the description from Sony.

When Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) first got together, their romantic connection was intense – and though they’re still very much in love, ten years and two kids have cooled the passion. To kick things up a notch, they decide – why not? – to make a video of themselves trying out every position in THE JOY OF SEX in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea – until they discover that their most private video is no longer private. With their reputations on the line, they know they’re just one click away from being laid bare to the world... but in their race to reclaim their video, they'll find that it will expose even more than they bargained for.

Cameron Diaz plays a mom blogger. I'm a mom blogger. She's in her 30's, married 10 years with kids. Um ... in my 30's, married 10 years (together 20) and yes ... 3 kids. There is this part early on in the movie where Jay and Annie talk about how they would love to spend some time alone ... and think about scheduling it for a Thursday maybe. It was both hilarious, and so true ... because you get to a point where all you are doing is working, shuffling the kids to their next activity (wrestling practices and swim for us currently), or trying to get the laundry done because oh my gosh when else is it going to get done. I can not tell you how many nights I end up crashing on the couch next to my husband and vegging on whatever we have on the DVR. And it was not always like that. This movie is incredibly relatable for so many reasons.

The start and end of the movie was a little surprising to me. Lets just say there is a lot of getting it on. It was a little shocking at first ... but it's also awkward and funny and it really does work with the movie. If you are offended by strong language and several (several) sexual situations, this movie will not be for you.

Who is the movie for? As Cameron said during her interview with us, the movie is about two people who really love each other. They know that they have married the right people, aren't having a hard time ... they are just having a hard time having THIS part of the relationship.

It was an incredible experience getting to sit down and interview director Jake Kasdan, as well as actors Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz. When my boys filmed their parts in American Hustle, I got to see first hand everything a director has to do when everyone is on set. And it fascinated me. Getting to sit down and ask Jake about how he chose to film pieces of Sex Tape was like a dream come true.
It was equally as exciting to be able to ask Jason and Cameron questions about their experience. For more on those interviews - and to see what Cameron really said in that Esquire interview about having kids (it's not at all what you think!) see my post on Melissa's blog here.

Sex Tape opens in theaters tomorrow, July 18th.

I feel like it's a must see. I can't wait to take my husband and see it again - and I recommend that all my married friends who have busy lives and kids at home take their significant others and see it as well. You won't be disappointed.

Wordless Wednesday - Thunderstorms edition

 

Thunderstorms equal a teary kid, and a dog who isn't allowed on the bed - refusing to leave the bed.

LA baby

So my babies turned 7. It actually happened. I wished for a way to keep them 6, but time moves on anyway.

We celebrated with dinner that night at Chelo's Waterfront (as has been tradition) and then headed out to Hope to see the fireworks. The boys could not stop talking about how it felt like the fireworks were just for their birthday. I could not get enough of the smiles on all of their faces.

I make it to my summer office (also known as the beach) about 3 days a week and the weather has been amazing - up until today. Looking at 3 days straight of forecasted thunderstorms has me disappointed. The beach is calling me. I did need to slow down a bit and catch up on so many other things though, so maybe it is what I needed after all.

Last week I started helping Calm-A-Mama with their social media. Calm-A-Mama is homeopathic healing for anxiety, insomnia and more. Flower remedies for moms, dads, kids, and even pets. I am really excited about this company!

I also made a last minute trip out to LA last week for the Sex Tape movie press junket with Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel. Amazing time. I feel like a piece of me belongs in LA and I can't wait to share the trip with you. I was able to go on my friend and blogger (at The-Mommyhood-Chronicles) Melissa Pezza's behalf as she welcomed her baby girl into the world. I am currently working on a post to be featured on her blog for tomorrow about the trip. I will follow up here with another post about LA on Wednesday.

I can't believe how much I needed to just go away and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. When I stopped writing and traveling for 5 Minutes for Mom, I started working on social media for local businesses as the next transition for me. My current clients include Envious Swimming, Dream Big Gymnastics, Calm-A-Mama ... and I also write the weekly blog for Launch Trampoline Park.

With the boys trying to pursue an acting career - and still making sure they take time to just be kids along the way - I felt like my own blog here was at a crossroads. What to post, if I should give it up after all these years ... writing is a part of me but I was definitely feeling stuck. Being in LA, even though it was just for two days, made me realize how much I did love to travel and write. I feel like it was something I had started to forget. How many people can say they drove race cars on a professional track in New Orleans, drove a Mercedes around New Mexico, got to go on a Disney trip, got to interview Cameron Diaz and Jason Segal ... and so much more. Writing has taken me amazing places, and with the support of my husband and kids I have truly been blessed.

LA gave me time to do a little soul searching. This is still what I want to do. And I made some amazing new friends as well.

Stick with me as I get back to a regular posting schedule here.