Diaper Trials--Get Paid!

So, there is this wonderful survey going on, and they need moms who have children still in diapers. Here's the lowdown:

You get about 20 disposable diapers (or training pants) sent to you FREE in the mail, and then they send you a check for $10 after you complete a quick phone survey.

The name of the company is Arquest, and they are looking for moms of children still wearing diapers. (Sometimes they have trials with disposable training pants/pull ups as well.) If you have a child in diapers/pull ups and want to leave your name to be contacted when they have more openings, call:

• GIRLS: 1-888-342-7372 ext. 646
• BOYS: 1-888-342-7372 ext. 634
  

You can also press 9 for "diaper study" when you call the above number. It is a recorded message.

You will need to leave your name, your phone number, your child's gender and diaper size. They will call you when they have an opening. (Be patient, it can take 4 - 8 weeks to be called the first time! But sometimes they will call you right back, the same day!)

I called today, unfortunately, they aren't doing size 5's at the moment, but will be. Other sizes are needed right now, though. Call, get paid--the survey lasts about 2 minutes!

Mommy's Kiss

What The Children REALLY Think...

My friend Dominoe did this on her blog and I thought it would be fun to see what our children said.

Ask your children to answer the questions and type their answers in.Tag other moms with kids who might have fun with this. :) ( just type what the kids said...)

Zach's answers:
1. What is something mom always says to you? Clean your room!
2. What makes mom happy? Going to the library.
3. What makes mom sad? When I disobey.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? When Payge does funny things.
5. What was your mom like as a child? She was disobedient. (No, I wasn't)
6. How old is your mom?21?
7. How tall is your mom? I have no idea.
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? Cooking shows.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Play on the computer (ha, try cleaning up after you, dear.)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? I don't know.
11. What is your mom really good at? Dancing and singing.
12. What is your mom not very good at? Violin
13. What does your mom do for her job? Staying home--take care of us.
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Spaghetti & meatballs, aww, Mom, I'm guessing, I don't know.
15. What makes you proud of your mom? When she makes pies and cakes and chocolate chip cookies.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Mickey Mouse?
17. What do you and your mom do together? Lots of things, like learning and activities and playing.
18. How are you and your mom the same? We both wear glasses, and we're both white. (I suppose race is hereditary...)
19. How are you and your mom different? Well, I'm a boy, and she's a girl. I'm little and she's big.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? By her taking care of me.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? He's funny. He lets us play with his legos.
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To her parents? Oh, restaurants.

1. What is something mom always says to you? Dress up!
2. What makes mom happy? Hugs.
3. What makes mom sad? Kids watching shows alone.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Blowing raspberries...like this! PPbblllthhhht.
5. What was your mom like as a child? Four!
6. How old is your mom? Uhhhh....
7. How tall is your mom? This tall.
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? Dora!! (her favorite)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go to grocery stores.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Uhhhhh.
11. What is your mom really good at? Go to bed!
12. What is your mom not very good at? She's grumpy--like the Care Bear, so not too grumpy.
13. What does your mom do for her job? Make dinner.
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Macaroni & cheese! (again, her favorite, not mine)
15. What makes you proud of your mom? Her smile.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? A beautiful princess!
17. What do you and your mom do together? Go to the potty. She uses the toilet paper. It's stinky-gross!
18. How are you and your mom the same? When I grow up I get to be a mommy, too!
19. How are you and your mom different? That I'm this tall.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? A dog. (I wonder, is this a request?)
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? A pet sheep. (huh?)
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Shoe shopping. (Not really, but it's her favorite, so we go together.)

A Day In the Life...

Today I made a nice big pot of carrot soup (mmmm) for lunch. Chayce asked for a bowl of it (having already eaten) and I only gave her a little. I left the room to take care of the baby, leaving the pot of soup on the table. When I came back, I found that my darling 3 year old had increased the amount of soup in her bowl, and had given herself a good foot soaking in it. I realize that it is pedicure season, getting ready for sandals and all, but in my carrot soup? C'mon!

Later in the day, we were outside. Zachary was building sand castles in the sand box while I raked the yard (since I didn't do it last fall, whoops.) He was getting very frustrated, as the detailed parts of his castle kept coming apart, and he had to keep starting over. I mentioned to him that I felt the same way EVERY SINGLE DAY as I try to keep the house in some semblance of order while he runs amok. I was looking for sympathy, and maybe even a little behavior modification.

Anyhow, after about the 10th time that he had to start over he stood up and let out a very frustrated scream. I walked over to him (I felt almost smug, due to the fact that I'd always hoped he'd feel this way at some point and I could do some analogies. hee hee), but then, he told me he was so frustrated that he couldn't succeed at making this sand castle that he felt he should rip his own arms off.

"Well," I replied, "If you're going to do that, you might as well do it under adult supervision. I'm here now, go ahead."

(Keep in mind that I wasn't serious and would never allow my children to hurt themselves). He thought for a moment and then shyly asked, "Can I do it tomorrow?" I smiled and told him that, by tomorrow, he would no longer feel this way, that it would pass and that his arms would most likely stay intact, but that was a good thing.

We then discussed how everyone feels this way frequently, and if we didn't it would mean that we weren't doing something that was stretching our abilities, talents and gifts. We wouldn't be growing morally, spiritually, or physically. We need trial, and we need to feel frustrated, but we also need to give it time. The conversation was just as good for me as it was for him, and I'm sure there will be many, many more to come.

Are My Friends OK?

This evening, we had a family in our home which we just met. Their children are the same ages as our children, and so we excitedly told the children that they should get their toy room ready for guests, as they would be making new friends after dinner.
Chayce looked at me, with big sad eyes, and said, "Mommy, what happened to my old friends? Did they die?"

She was very concerned for her dear friends that she usually plays with, and I had to reassure her that Megan and Abby especially were OK, and that it's possible to make new friends without forgetting the ones you already have. While I was saddened at what she must have been feeling, I was also in awe at the great love she has for her friends, I can't remember loving anyone that much when I was three. What a wonderful little girl.

Happy First Birthday Payge!!

Wow. It's here. Well, coming. Payge turns one this Thursday, the 12th of March. I'll pictures of her birthday cake and all, but today, I'm posting a copy of my photo reminiscence. I found the perfect song to fit it, listen to the words as you watch my baby grow up in fast forward. I still can't fathom how it has passed by already, how she went from scrawny to my chunky lil' Payge.
Happy Birthday Baby!!

Quotable Moments

Chayce, Zachary, Payge and I decided to go out and discover what the snow had been covering for months and months and months. I wish I had the camera when we found a lady bug in a small hole in the sidewalk, perfectly preserved, shell shiny and all. We were observing her un-moving state when Chayce pipes up, "Oh, the poor little lady bug. She's sooo dead!"

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Chayce and Zach were sitting side-by-side at the dinner table, using our colored IKEA cups. They both had the lime green ones, and Chayce says, "It's a good thing we sat together, since our cups match."
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This morning, Chayce had her shoes on the wrong feet. I asked her to switch them around. So she crossed her legs at the ankles. Not quite what I had in mind.

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I told Payge she was growing up to be a lot like Chayce, following in the footsteps of the female just older than her in our family. Zachary said, "With that kind of reasoning, Chayce is growing up to be a grumpy mommy."

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Payge is trying out her voice much more now. The other evening, during bath time, Stephen called to her to get her attention: "Oh, Paa-aayge."
She replied, in the same sing-song pitch and tone, "Daa-aad?"

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During a church meeting, I put my hand to Payge's mouth to quiet her. Instead, it resulted in her figuring out how to do the "baby rap" and when I pulled my hand away, she used her own to finish the song. So much for quiet.

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The distance from the library to our house is 1.6 miles, each way. We were really proud of Zachary for walking the whole way, when we took his spot away from him in the double stroller for Payge to use. We were bragging about how great it was that he could walk so far, when, after we got out of the libary, Chayce decided to pretend that Mommy & the stroller (now holding Zach and Payge) was a big monster, and precedded to RUN the entire distance (from me). Stephen was with us, and kept up with her, but she ran pretty quick. We joked that she might be my running partner very soon!
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