I wish I had an answer...

I went grocery shopping yesterday, I went and I did not complain. Thanks to my trusty blog, I went with a good attitude!! :-)
I was over in the produce section when a lady stopped me and asked if she could ask me a question. I was thinking that I am no produce expert but sure, ask away. She was looking at caramel (pronounced CAR-MEL) apple wraps and asked if I had ever used them. I told her that it might be more work but that I have always used caramel candies, just unwrap, melt, and yummy caramel apples! I was ready to walk away when she started to talk about the cost of caramel and candy is so expensive...ok, I might be here for a while...
Come to find out, this lady is new to the Room Mom scene. She decided to sign up for her daughter's class of 15 and now she was literally freaking out!! She had sent a letter home for parents to please send $5 for the party that they would be having on Friday. Tuesday was the deadline to get all money turned in and as of yesterday, when I saw her at the grocery store, 3 kids had turned in money!! 3 kids?! She was planning pizza, caramel apples, dirt pudding, a little cake, goody bags, drinks, all this fun stuff and now she had $15!! Really people?! I felt sorry for her and told her that maybe she should talk to the teacher to help out, I honestly felt bad for her.
I guess she wasn't aware of the "the room Mom always spends a TON of money to make the parties happen"
But then it got me to thinking? Why does this happen?? How can we change it?? We're all parents...we all want our kids to have fun at school, don't we?....
I don't know, I don't have an answer, I wish I did...
Why does it seem that parental involvement on all levels, at the school, get harder and harder each year...
It really made me sad! :-(

How to be happy about Grocery shopping

Every week I have to make a grocery list and go grocery shopping. With 6 people in the house, the food runs out pretty quickly, along with laundry detergent, dog food, toilet paper, and all those needed necessities.

Early in my marriage I learned to make a list of what we are going to eat for the week and then shop off of that list. I will be honest, making a list for the week does two things.
1) I always know what we are eating for dinner
2) I only have to go to the grocery store once and get everything I need in one trip
This is super good because I hate going to the grocery store!!

Why do I hate going to the grocery store? Hmmm, it's because it's the same thing, week after week after week. Even if I am cooking new things, it's the same store, same people who work there, same crappy cart that doesn't cooperate and some crabby toddler that screams the whole time I'm in the store and makes me cranky!! I have been known to pull out my iPod while grocery shopping just keep me happy and to keep from having to hear that obnoxious child!! I know I sound bitter but, I have had 4 kids, I don't go to the store with kids anymore, I have served my time with babies and toddlers and kids while grocery shopping SO, when I go grocery shopping I don't want to hear your kid screaming...especially if you are that parent who is letting the child throw a fit and then giving him what he wants. Grrrr!

Anyway, I have decided I need to post my reasons to be happy about grocery shopping, to help me see how blessed I am and not to complain!! So, here goes...

1) I have a grocery store that I can drive to and don't have to walk to a market like some people in other countries
2) All my food is in one place and I don't have to pick it, kill it, or package it. I find what I want, throw it into my cart and away I go
3) I have money to buy groceries which means I am blessed
4) I need new groceries every week because I have 4 healthy children and a healthy husband who stay strong and healthy with the food I buy them
5) I have 4 kids in school and don't have to bring anyone with me to the grocery store, this really is nice...although taking one kid with me is sort of fun and I enjoy the company. :-)

Ok, 5 reasons, I think that is good right? Very good!! Now on Monday I can look back on this and remind myself why I am happy about grocery shopping because I know I won't want to go do it...

Let's get out of May

So, it is now October and I haven't posted since May. A good friend of mine, told me she has been stalking my blog and has been stuck in May...I'm sorry friend!!
Summer was soooo good. We stayed busy and it went by waaaay too fast. Now we got our first 9 week report cards and the weather is starting to get cold. The only good thing about the weather getting colder is the fire Jason gets to put into the fireplace. I would rather sweat and run errands than freeze and run errands, I REALLY HATE THE COLD!!! But, this is not to complain about the cold, I have too much to be happy about....do you know what it is?! I'll give you a clue, it has to do with one specific person being home for good and he looks like this...