Look Mom!

I've recently blogged about the part of life in the country that I did not expect, but I truly love.  You can quickly visit that beautiful post here.  Apparently my enthusiasm about it has transferred to the littlest Dickerson.  Tonight, Chad and I were sitting at the dining room table catching up on the events of the day.  Blake pushed a chair up to the sink so she could wash dishes when she suddenly yelled, "Look Mom!  It's...".  You'll have to giggle through this 13 second video for just a tiny peek into the fabulousness that we get to call normal life.

So, how are the "fweng sets" where you live?

Surviving Life with 3 Daughters

People often say that they wish kids came with instruction books.  Don't worry.  I'm not going to try to create that instruction booklet.  However, I do have some secrets to surviving life with three girls while working and going to school.  Some of these tips are appropriate for life with boys, girls, or any combination.  Some of them are quite girl specific.  Here are five of my top ten tips. 

1.  I buy the appropriate size trash bags and leave the roll in the bottom of all the trash cans.  The initial set up maybe a little pricey because you might have to buy 4 rolls/boxes of trash bags at one time.  However, each time your child (hint, hint) needs to empty the trash, she can simply grab the bag, separate bottom from the roll, and prepare next bag to receive treasures trash.  I do know that it is much more economical to empty the trash into another bag rather than replace every bag every time.  However, I learned from experience that my kids can't manage to dump that trash INTO another bag without making a huge mess.  So, I've decided to budget the extra few bucks each year for enough trash bags to do it my way.

2.  We have a "pencil graveyard".  With three girls in the house, we have writing utensils everywhere.  Seriously, I got so tired of picking up and throwing away pens, pencils, map colors, crayons, etc.  Finally, after Christmas this year, I was walking through the house picking up loose items from the floor.  I happened to be holding a medium sized felt gift bag left from the holidays.  I casually started adding my finds (pens, pencils, etc.) to the bag.  Now when I find these things lying around, I hide store them for the girls.  The greatest things of all about this secret is that I NEVER have to pick up the same items twice!  Yes, I could still throw them away, but I am realistic enough to know that we will need $87 worth of school supplies in the fall.  My big girls are going to be so excited to get all their mismatched left overs back in zip-lock bags!! Shhhh!  Don't tell.

3.  I already mentioned my children and their genetic inability to put away writing utensils.  I assure you, I've done extensive research on their father for the last 15 years.  They have no hope of ever learning to put their things away.  I am personally just a little OCD about everything having a place and everything being in its place.  There's not a lot in this world that can make me mad faster than going to get something from it's place and realizing that it is not there.  My solution to protect the small items that I often need is my very own drawer.  I have a drawer in the kitchen that my children understand is a quick trip to death if they should even open it.  Before you get all offended, know that they have a drawer as well.  Both drawers were almost identically stocked.  Mine still has tape, scissors, pens, pencils, paper clips, etc.  Theirs?  Well, most of their writing utensils are in the "pencil graveyard".  I am happy to report that every time I need a pen, I can find it in its place in my drawer.

4.  All these girls have hair accessories.  Fortunately, all three of our girls have very different types of hair.  Kennedy, has thick, thick, t.h.i.c.k. hair.  She needs those large ponytail holders that are about as thick as a round shoelace.  Taylor has thin, thin, thin hair.  She needs those skinny ponytail holders.  Blake's hair is never brushed or styled.  No, seriously, I do spank her and make her sit still long enough for me to attempt to get her hair out of her face during the week.  For her super thin, fine hair we have to use the actual rubber bands.  You know the ones that look like the rubber bands that we used on our braces back in 1990?  Seems like it might complicate things to have to buy three different types of bands for hair.  But, can you imagine the number of ponytail holders that I find in the shower, bathroom floor, bedroom floor, living room floor, car, etc?  No one can claim "it's not mine" because they are each very distinct. 

5.  These girls are messy, hairy, hungry gals.  Yes, they even eat.  They are fairly independent.  None of them are allowed to use the oven independently, but they can operate the microwave, etc.  They each have their preferences for food.  I keep a magnetic grocery list on the side of the refrigerator.  Kennedy and Taylor both know that if they use all or nearly all of an item, it needs to be added to the grocery list.  Honestly, I don't always buy what they write on the list because I prefer that they have more variety to their diet.  And for the record, they do not get to select and prepare their own food for every meal.  Breakfast, they are generally allowed to select oatmeal, cereal, etc.  They do prepare their own lunches for school but must have them inspected by "no you can't have 2 desserts" mom before they leave the kitchen.  I generally prepare the evening meals.  Therefore, the things they typically need to add to the grocery list include items such as "flower logurt" for Blake, "bretoes" for Kennedy, and "peprony" for Taylor.


Life is not always fun around here, but we manage.  We haven't mastered all the challenges of multiple kids and multiple jobs yet.  And quite honestly, I'm not ready for it all to be smooth sailing.  There are days that I would like for my kids to "get it all right", but I'm sure that they will only "get it all right" when they are in their own homes.  I'm not ready for that yet!