Want to find out what we are up to this summer?

4 kids, 1 grandma, 26 states, 8 weeks, and one dad floating in and out. Our summer adventure. I am very excited to show my kids the United States, it's beauty and it's history.

I've been making preparations for the past several months, and really kicked it into high gear the last month.

June 12 - August 14th.

I'm going to start a separate blog/journal for our trip. This one is going to be private so no creepy people show up on our trip and force me to use my pepper spray.

Please leave me a comment or contact me at maureenshumway@gmail.com if you'd like the play by play events of our summer.

Have a great Summer...I know we will.

Birthday Traditions

At the Shumway house, we celebrate birthdays a bit differently than other families. We don't have birthday parties. Ever. We started out with the intention of having birhtday parties, I remember doing a pirate themed one for Austin when he was four years old. It was fun, a lot of work, and expensive. Maybe I burned out of my first birthday party because we had lots of little friends, people visiting in town, and was about 8 mths. pregnant. So, we decided to do something different for our children and for us, it works out perfectly.

The Shumway Birthday Tradition

Decorated Door and Picture Collage

The child wakes up to a decorated door, which all the children gather around and reminisce on the various activities that we have done in the past. We all love it. The kids love it so much, they leave their birthday collages up until the new one the next year. It is fun for Randy and I to gather the pictures and remember all the fun times we have as a family, and also become a little bit sad because the children are growing up so fast and we love them so.

The Birthday Donut
We put candles in donuts and sing to the child at breakfast and then we all (well the kids, donuts and I don't mix) eat donuts for breakfast. We used to go to the bakery, but as most the kids birthdays are during the school year, we now opt for the little mini donuts that Mom can purchase at the store at her leisure.

The Birthday Experience
The birthday child decides how to spend the following Saturday /weekend to celebrate their birthday, as a family. In the past this has included, movies, Boondocks (a family fun center with laser tag), Disneyland (we were already going there), fire pit and smores in the backyard, and always includes dinner out to the restaurant of their choice.

This birthday celebration works well for our family and we LOVE it. The children look forward to their birthday posters. It seems to shift the focus off of presents and chaos and more towards a celebration of the child. Every family is different, but I'm glad we thought up this tradition.

Mouse Catchers

Without Further adieu, The story of the Mouse Catchers. Two Editions.

Randy's Version:
On Sunday I walked downstairs to witness a mouse running across the kitchen counter tops. Randy came downstairs and we tried to find where the mouse went in order to capture it – but to no avail.

The next morning, Austin and Tyler ran upstairs to inform us that they have caught the mouse. Apparently, they saw the same mouse (we hope the same mouse) running again across the kitchen counter top. Thinking quickly, they threw a wad of paper towels at it to prevent it from running the direction it was headed (to its imminent escape) and then they both grabbed Tupperware bowls and ran around until they cornered it and slammed the bowl over it in order to capture it. We were very proud of their teamwork and quick thinking. And we are particularly grateful to have that mouse outside of our home now rather than inside of it.

Maureen's Version:
It was a typical Sunday morning. I was thinking to myself as I walked downstairs to the kitchen to get breakfast going for the family "Man, I really have it together this morning". I turned on the lights to the kitchen and I saw a mouse scurry across the counter and crawl up the spice rack up the dish cabinet. I immediately started screaming. It was completely traumatic. I then proceeded to run over to the cabinet and figure out where it went. I was scared to look up the side of the cabinet for fear that when I looked up, it would jump down on my face. Looking back, mice don't do that possessed animal attacking thing - that's reserved for rabid bats and monkeys. Anyway, we then commenced to cleaning the entire house, trying to inspect different places to figure out how the little rodent got in, but also I think to prove to ourselves that we didn't live in some sort of condemned house - I thought that, most certainly not Randy.

We set mouse traps on the counter, hoping to lure the nasty thing in with a peanut butter treat. We went to church and I mourned the fact that I had two mouse traps on my kitchen counter top.

All Sunday, no mouse. I was not excited about the prospect of potentially having a mouse STILL in my house but I was also convincing myself that it probably went back outside. Then I worried it got stuck in the walls and it would die and would stink and we'd have no way to get it out. Somehow that night, I fell asleep.

Of course the girls were up in the middle of the night - legitimately - one fell out of bed and the other woke from her sister's cries. To be honest, when I heard them cry I debated on going downstairs because I didn't want a mouse to run across my feet. I bolted downstairs taking as few of steps as possible, comforted the girls and went back to sleep.

Monday morning I am getting ready for the day and I hear the boys come upstairs - mind you, it's maybe 7am- and the boys say, "We caught the mouse". They were so proud. They used teamwork and quick reactions to catch the bugger. Tyler scared it into a corner, and Austin was ready on the other side, slamming a bowl on top of it as soon as it ran near him. I'm impressed, knowing how fast little mice run. Needless to say, that was the end of the mouse escapade in our house.

After some investigative work we realized the mouse came in through the garage, as we were cleaning it out on Saturday.

Thankfully we are not the house in the movie Ratatouille. I'm grateful for my mouse catchers. And I'm grateful I don't have to take anxiety medicine now.

Two versions of the same story, a his and hers. Same end result - we both don't like mice, especially in our house.

Dearly Departed

Just a quick update to say, my friend and I have separated. Yes, we have gone on two different paths. The first few days without my beloved Coke were rough, but I'm now through that difficult patch and am visiting for only a few sips once a week and must say "Why did you have such a hold on me?" It's not that great. In fact, I only took a few sips and was done. I went back to water.

Another success, Ellie doesn't ask for you anymore. Sorry McDonald's man, you might not see me for a very long time. Our several times a day meetings are over, no longer can you say "Remember me, I took your order last time" and then the awkward exchange between us. You will have to find another to converse with. I'm heartbroken. No, really I am.

Watch out world, I'm looking for a new best friend, and I think I may have found her...Blueberry flax seed smoothie, you are looking mighty fine. Yes you are.

Farewell to a friend

Dear Coca Cola,

I have enjoyed you as a fizzy, refreshing, life saving beverage for several years. We have been very close the last few years. In fact, a little too close. I depend on you way too much. I call on you several times a day. I depend on you so much, I refuse to have anything else compete with you and your bubbly comfort. You have been there when I drop the kids off at school, when I'm frustrated, when I'm celebrating, when I'm alone and folding laundry. The thought of you puts a smile on my face. It's been a wonderful run, however, we've got to part ways. I am very concerned that my two year old sees McDonald's and instantly says "Coke, Mom?". I've seen her go from stealing sips to blatantly pulling you away from me and hugging you like a long lost friend. I'm afraid of the hundreds of thousands of calories I've wasted on just sugar and dark caramel syrup, of which I'm sure will create cavities and leave a souvenir of our times with darkened teeth.

I need to introduce myself to new friends. Real food. Not desserts, real food. So, dear coke, you and your sugary associates will not be as welcome in my house. You may come to call occasionally, but not as frequently as you do. You have worn out your welcome.

Whole grains, fruits and vegetables have been invited to take your place. These new guys don't have the appeal of your sleek, bubbly self with that sassy red straw, and they are a little hard to swallow, but in time, I'm sure we'll get along just fine.

But, as with all old chums, I look back fondly on the days of carefree consumption and realize that sometimes, all good things must come to an end.

It's been a long day, and I'd love to just have one more, for old times sake.

Your loyal follower,

Maureen

Which is worse?

Ever play the game "would you rather"? I have an opinion on at least one subject. Throw up. Would you rather have a child: a. throw up all over the bookstore, you and in your purse or b. all over the car? My answer is safely, A. all over me and the bookstore. I've had the pleasure of both this week and it's no fun driving home from school with the windows down, other kids gagging, and lots of car crevices to clean up. However, cleaning out a wallet with throw up is no treat either.

I'm grateful for the new washer and dryer I have with the 'barf' option that I had to mortgage my house two weeks ago for, working like a charm.

Is it my house?

Why do all my "energy efficient" light bulbs have a shorter life than the cheap ones I get. Yes, I even check the wattage thing. Seriously, they only last like 3 months. I've had some old cheapies that have been in ever since we moved in, almost 4 years ago.

Most carpet cleaners don't get out "kid pudding", as McKell says, or more commonly known as Hunt's pudding in a cup. Bleach, however gets kid pudding off of the sheets nicely. The 'scrub' and vacuum off the dirt claim doesn't work. Neither does my steam cleaner, both in getting the stain out, and now, turning on and heating water.

Shoes get swallowed in the depths of my walls. Usually one one of a pair. It really stinks, especially when it's all the same side of the foot.

Offices should be renamed "The room in the house that you can fool yourself into thinking is organized and clean, but really isn't and never will be". I think the same can be said of my laundry room.